Senator Robin Padilla became the subject of online buzz after posting a short Facebook statement on Saturday, November 8, while reports circulated about an alleged International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Padilla did not directly address the ICC issue in his post, but he wrote: “Busy po ako ngayon sa pagsasaayos at paghahanda ng relief goods para sa parating na bagyo.”
“BAGO n’yo KAMI ipagkanulo para maipakulong, magbanat muna tayo ng buto para makatulong sa kapwa.”
The senator’s statement came just as the ICC reports began trending, prompting many social media users to connect his message to the controversy.
Earlier that day, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said in a radio interview that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa. However, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla later clarified that the government has not received any official red notice from the Interpol or confirmation from the ICC.
Meanwhile, Atty. Israelito Torreon, legal counsel for Dela Rosa, urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions:
“We have been made aware of circulating reports claiming that the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa. At this point, we do not have independent confirmation as to whether or not this information is accurate,” he said.
Torreon added that if the reports prove true, they trust the Philippine government to follow the rule of law and due process.
While Padilla’s latest Facebook post did not explicitly mention Dela Rosa, it quickly went viral alongside resurfaced clips of his 2023 viral statement, where he said he would willingly join Dela Rosa if the ICC ever arrested him.
“Kung huhulihin nila si Bato, isama niyo na ako dahil ako, isa ako sa sumuporta kay Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte diyan sa drug war. Walang iwanan nga, e. Sasamahan ko sila kung saan sila. Tutal, sanay naman tayo sa kulungan. Sa abroad pa, naku, masarap pagkain doon,” Padilla said in an interview two years ago.
The resurfaced quote has since sparked mixed reactions online, with netizens revisiting Padilla’s old remarks in light of the ICC developments involving his ally and former Philippine National Police chief, Sen. Dela Rosa.
As of now, the Department of Justice and the ICC have yet to issue any official confirmation regarding the reported warrant.
