Metro Manila, Philippines – The Supreme Court has denied Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to the crimes against humanity of murder related to the Duterte administration’s drug war.
In its resolution released on Wednesday, the court rejected Dela Rosa’s plea for an interim release with a 9-5-1 vote.
Dela Rosa earlier filed a “very urgent” manifestation to request the TRO to block an arrest and surrender him to the ICC if granted.
The 117-page plea invokes the senator’s “unmistakable right to be protected” after a footchase in the Senate premises as he evaded authorities attempting to serve him the warrant.
Two days later, Dela Rosa fled the Senate after a standoff between Senate security personnel and National Bureau of Investigation agents.
The senator is at-large.
