Sen. Bato dela Rosa‘s remarks about not backing down despite the presence of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents at the Senate were met with criticism online, amid videos of him running inside the building.
The senator thanked his supporters who gathered outside the Senate building after the NBI attempted to arrest him in connection with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in the Duterte administration’s “War on Drugs” campaign.
READ: ICC confirms it has issued arrest warrant for Duterte ally | Duterte ally in standoff with law enforcers after ICC arrest warrant
“Hindi ako aatras… para sa bayan. Ayusin natin ang Pilipinas para sa bayang ito,” Dela Rosa said in a video call to his supporters on Monday, May 11.
“Mahal ko kayong lahat, para ito sa inyong lahat. I am willing to die for you, and for this country,” he told the crowd.
However, the senator’s remarks were met with reactions online, with some users recalling CCTV footage that showed him running inside the Senate building to reach his office that day.
“Willing to die, but not willing to be arrested?” a Facebook user commented.
“You cannot run from the law,” another wrote.
“Hindi aatras, tatakbo at magtatago lang,” a Facebook user commented.
“Hindi ako aatras dahil tatakbo ako,” another wrote.
“‘Hindi ako aatras.’ Ayun, tumakbo,” a different Pinoy said.
“Walang atrasan, abante lang sa pagtakbo, hahaha,” another commented.
CCTV footage shown during the Senate session appeared to show Dela Rosa running from NBI agents and stumbling near the fire exit stairs as he made his way to the plenary hall on the second floor.
After the chase with NBI, Dela Rosa explained why he reappeared in the Senate.
“Ang aking iniisip talaga is kung paano ako makakarating sa Session Hall na hindi nila ako mahawakan, para makasama ako roon sa pagboto para sa pagbabago ng liderato,” he said, referring to the Senate leadership change that made Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano the new Senate President.
READ: Senate leadership shift, PDP-Laban warning mark build-up to impeachment vs VP Sara
Meanwhile, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has long supported efforts to bring cases related to the Duterte administration’s “War on Drugs” before the ICC, said that NBI agents were in the Senate to serve a warrant for Dela Rosa.
Trillanes was also present, saying Dela Rosa had earlier challenged him to be there when the time comes for his ICC arrest.
The warrant, issued in November 2025, said that Dela Rosa helped implement a broader plan to “neutralize” suspects and took steps to enable and encourage the anti-narcotics operations that resulted in numerous deaths.
Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police chief at the height of the anti-drug campaign.
He spent the night in the Senate premises after Sen. Rodante Marcoleta made a motion to place Dela Rosa under protective custody “until he is able to get all and exhaust all legal remedies to protect himself and until this institution is able to do just the same.”
Dela Rosa has not been seen in the Senate since November 2025, after Ombudsman Boying Remulla alleged that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him.
ALSO READ: Mounting calls to hold Bato dela Rosa accountable as he logs most Senate absences
The senator claimed he has not been accepting his salary as a lawmaker in the past months out of “shame” for the public. It was not disclosed whether his staff, including relatives listed in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) as of June 30, 2025, have continued to receive salaries during his absence.
