Escudero: Senate can help Bato dela Rosa if he needs security
Senate President Francis Escudero said on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, that the Senate can help Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if he needs security. | PHOTO: Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate’s Office of Sergeant at Arms (OSAA) is willing to extend assistance to Sen. Bato dela Rosa if he has concerns about his security, said Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Escudero offered the Senate help to dela Rosa a day after the embattled senator bared to the media that the Philippine National Police recalled his security detail in Davao.
According to Escudero, the two security officers in Davao that dela Rosa was referring to are “not actually assigned” to him.
“I think yung binabanggit niyang dalawang security na naka assign sa kanya sa Davao ay accommodation lamang, hindi talaga naka assign sa kanya. Iba pa yung security niya dito sa Maynila. Pero kung saka-sakali ‘man mangailangan ng tulong si Senator Bato, nakahanda ang Office of the Sergeant at Arms na bigyan siya ng tulong at asistensya kung meron siyang pangamba kaugnay sa kanyang seguridad. Bahagi ‘yan ng mandato’t trabaho ng Office of the Sergeant at arms o OSAA ng Senado,” said Escudero.
(I think the two security personnel that he’s pertaining of being assigned to him were only for accommodation — not assigned to him. He has a different security set in Manila. But if he ever needs help and assistance or if he has concerns about his security, the OSAA is willing to assist.)
Following the recall of his security in Davao, dela Rosa said at least 10 of his friends and former colleagues — who are retired police and army men – have volunteered to serve as his security and keep him safe while he’s in the city.
Dela Rosa is facing charges of crimes against humanity concerning the role he played at the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war.
As Duterte’s former top cop, de la Rosa issued Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016 when he assumed power as PNP chief and this document was the basis for Project Double Barrel, which started Duterte’s war on drugs and was later dubbed as Oplan Tokhang.
Atty. Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, earlier told 黑料社 that after Duterte, dela Rosa and retired police chief Oscar Albayalde could be the next to receive arrest warrants from the ICC for crimes against humanity over their roles in the previous administration’s drug war.
READ: Bato dela Rosa still in PH, not hiding
“There are three names mentioned in the ICC documents. These are Duterte, dela Rosa and Albayalde. There are three additional names of police officers who are allegedly involved as well, but the documents pertaining to them are still unofficial,” Conti said.
