Published May 21, 2026 6:52pm + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday reiterated calls for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to cooperate with authorities, following the Department of Justice’s directive to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.In a press statement, Hontiveros said respect for the rule of law and due process must prevail amid the developments. She also urged dela Rosa to submit himself to the authorities and comply with legal proceedings.“Inuulit ko ang aming panawagan kay Senator dela Rosa. Igalang ang batas at mag-submit at makipagtulungan sa mga alagad at proseso ng batas,” Hontiveros said.(I reiterate our call for Senator Dela Rosa: respect the law, submit to authorities, and cooperate with the legal process.)“I pray for the peaceful and lawful resolution of this situation, which has already affected multiple institutions and the entire country itself. May justice be served,” she added.Sen. Tulfo, meanwhile, said he was praying for Dela Rosa and his family, expressing hope that the senator remains in good health.“Pinagdarasal ko siya na sana po nasa mabuti siyang kalusugan, ilayo ng Panginoon Diyos sa sakit. Iyon lang po yung aking panalangin bilang kapwa senador. At saka yung kanyang pamilya,” Tulfo said.(I am praying that he remains in good health and that God keeps him free from illness. That is my prayer as a fellow senator, along with prayers for his family.)Asked whether dela Rosa should surrender, Tulfo said the decision ultimately rests with the former police chief, although he suggested that cooperating with authorities may spare him further difficulties.“Kung ako ang tatanungin mo, siguro para hindi na mahirapan, ika nga, na magtatago. Pero nasa kanya yun, Mahirap naman nating pilitin ang isang tao. Ika nga, may freedom din naman siya. May pag-iisip naman siya,” he said.(If you ask me, perhaps it would be better so he would no longer have to hide. But that decision is his. We cannot force a person to show himself. He has his freedom and can decide for himself.)MarcosSenator Imee Marcos, meanwhile, stressed that the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the validity of the ICC arrest warrant itself, noting that the tribunal only denied dela Rosa’s request for provisional relief.“Alam naman ng lahat na ang motion for TRO lang ang na-deny. Abangan natin ang paglabas ng desisyon sa Lunes daw sa website,” Marcos said.(Everyone knows that only the motion for a temporary restraining order was denied. Let us wait for the decision, which is expected to be posted on the website on Monday.)“Hindi pa nakapagpasya ang SC tungkol sa validity ng ICC warrant of arrest; wala pang hatol, ika nga, ‘on the merits’,” she added.(The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the validity of the ICC warrant of arrest. There has been no decision yet on the merits of the case.)Dela Rosa is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant in connection with allegations of crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.On Wednesday, the Supreme Court denied his request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or a status quo ante order (SQAO) that sought to prevent authorities from enforcing the ICC warrant and carrying out his possible arrest. –NB, GMA News