MANILA – The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s petition seeking to stop the enforcement of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

In an 83-page comment dated May 16, the OSG said the Philippines remains bound by international law obligations and stressed the need for accountability in cases involving alleged abuses.

“The law was never intended to provide an excuse for evasion, nor to become a weapon wielded only by those with power. It exists so that even the voiceless dead, whose cries never reached a courtroom, are not forgotten by justice. No amount of technical reasoning can disguise the absence of justice,” the comment read.

The OSG also cited jurisprudence in arguing that Dela Rosa had allegedly engaged in “conscious avoidance of lawful legal accountability,” describing him as a “fugitive from justice” evading an international arrest warrant.

It further said his alleged acts of avoidance and intent to evade prosecution should be considered a waiver of his right to present evidence and participate in proceedings, stating that a fugitive from justice loses standing in court.

Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate on May 11 after going missing for six months amid reports of a possible ICC arrest warrant. He was later placed under Senate custody.

However, he left the Senate building on May 14, hours after a shooting incident occurred in the chamber the night before.

The OSG said that by leaving, the senator placed himself outside the protection of the law.

“Until he submits himself to lawful authorities, he must be deemed a fugitive from justice and should not be allowed to seek any relief from the courts,” it added.

Dela Rosa has denied any wrongdoing and maintained he would only face proceedings before a local court, arguing that ICC warrants are not self-executing in the Philippines.