Where is Bato dela Rosa?

MANILA, Philippines — After a chaotic night in the Senate, reporters have yet to physically see Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his alleged involvement in President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

On Wednesday night, a group of armed men supposedly attempted to enter the chamber through its second floor on Wednesday night but were stopped by the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms personnel. Several gunshots were heard afterward.

READ: Marcos: ‘We’ll get to the bottom of this; it was not government-led’

Dela Rosa’s legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, faced the media around midnight after the purported incident, showing a photo of him with the senator taken minutes before speaking with reporters.

Torreon most recently posted on his social media at 1:11 a.m. on Thursday, again showing a photo of dela Rosa inside the Senate and dismissing rumors of an escape.

However, various sources have told the Inquirer that dela Rosa had already left the Senate premises.

The Inquirer is still verifying this information with the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Further, reporters have sought comment from dela Rosa’s office.

Dela Rosa is the subject of an ICC warrant seeking his arrest in connection with its investigation into the war on drugs lodged by Duterte, who is currently detained at the global tribunal in the Hague, Netherlands. /jpv