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Advocates Philippines
De Lima: Senate Must Explain How 'Protective Custody' Allowed Bato To Leave
Photo credit: Leila de Lima
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima is calling on the Senate of the Philippines to clarify how Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate premises despite being placed under what was described as protective custody.
De Lima raised the concern on Thursday, saying the situation raises serious questions about how custody arrangements were handled inside the upper chamber.
“Ang protective custody ay hindi para pagtakpan o patakasin ang aarestuhin. Malinaw: may mga duwag at kasabwat ng duwag sa pananagutan,” De Lima, a member of the House prosecution panel, said.
The issue surfaced after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that Dela Rosa was no longer inside the Senate building at the time questions were raised about his whereabouts.
Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration, has been facing scrutiny in connection with allegations linked to the International Criminal Court over the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
As of now, the Senate has not issued a detailed explanation on the circumstances surrounding his departure, while lawmakers continue to press for clarity on how the protective custody arrangement was implemented.
De Lima raised the concern on Thursday, saying the situation raises serious questions about how custody arrangements were handled inside the upper chamber.
“Ang protective custody ay hindi para pagtakpan o patakasin ang aarestuhin. Malinaw: may mga duwag at kasabwat ng duwag sa pananagutan,” De Lima, a member of the House prosecution panel, said.
The issue surfaced after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that Dela Rosa was no longer inside the Senate building at the time questions were raised about his whereabouts.
Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police under the Duterte administration, has been facing scrutiny in connection with allegations linked to the International Criminal Court over the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
As of now, the Senate has not issued a detailed explanation on the circumstances surrounding his departure, while lawmakers continue to press for clarity on how the protective custody arrangement was implemented.
May 14, 2026
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