KARAPATAN: Arrest mass murderer Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, other perpetrators of crimes vs humanity
KARAPATAN Public Information
PRESS STATEMENT
14 May 2026
Reference: Cristina Palabay, KARAPATAN secretary general, 09173162831
KARAPATAN Public Information Desk, 09189790580
KARAPATAN: Arrest mass murderer Bato dela Rosa, Bong Go, other perpetrators of crimes vs humanity
The ‘lockdown’ or ‘standoff’ in the Senate last night, however they call it now, is part of the disgusting and sickening turn of events that embodies our revoltingly rotten political system – from the House of Representatives’ impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, to the leadership change in the Senate geared towards supporting Sara in the impeachment trial, to the International Criminal Court’s public announcement on the warrant of arrest against Sen. Rolando “Bato” dela Rosa.
These events raised more questions than answers, far from what the Filipino people have demanded and expected yesterday, which was the arrest of dela Rosa. A lockdown in the Senate building was declared, with only the senators, employees, security, the Philippine National Police, and members of the media who were inside when gunshots were heard. Then came reports that the gunshots were from National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who were able to enter the Senate building from the GSIS gate, which was later on strongly denied by the NBI chief. Where then did the gunshots come from? What are the gunshots for? Most importantly, are these gunshots even real, and not staged?
Even Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s brief address after the incident raised more questions. Aside from declaring that he will push for an investigation, Marcos Jr. stressed that the gunshots were not from the government, in spite of the building ‘lockdown.’ He even said they will investigate whether this is part of a “destabilization” plot, further raising doubts on the motives in the supposed incident.
Meanwhile, in the live and recorded video footages of the media, dela Rosa is nowhere to be seen. The incident has now overtook the arrest of dela Rosa. The wanted former police general, and co-perpetrator of Duterte, is reportedly still inside the Senate, safe – but has evaded arrest once more, justifying his stay in the Senate halls by invoking the appeal he made to the Supreme Court.
We can only see a really messy example on how the ruling clique protects one of their own, giving him all the time to exhaust all means to evade accountability and justice. Meanwhile, Bato, and another senator, Bong Go, remain scot-free.
One thing remains certain: the Filipino people will not stop demanding accountability for the thousands of victims of Duterte’s killings. No action stint can mute the cries for justice from families who lost loved ones to extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, harassment, and other grave human rights violations. They never had the chance to defend themselves, nor avail of their rights to due process, nor contest the accusations against them – they were killed and silenced.
We assert that the Senate should not be turned into a sanctuary for the likes of mass murderer dela Rosa. Protecting Bato dela Rosa sends a dangerous message that powerful officials can evade responsibility while ordinary people suffer the consequences of state violence – an eerily familiar, normalized state of impunity. We continue to demand accountability from the Marcos Jr. government, as it continues its own wave of attacks against the Filipino people, from big-time corruption of public funds and massive poverty, fascist terror especially in the rural communities, and unabashed puppetry to US interests.
Our message remains clear: surrender Bato now to the ICC, arrest Bong Go and other perpetrators of crimes against humanity. Stop obstructing justice and stand on the side of accountability, human rights, and the Filipino people who demand accountability and justice. #
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KARAPATAN is an alliance of human rights organizations and programs, human rights desks and committees of people’s organizations, and individual advocates committed to the defense and promotion of people’s rights and civil liberties. It monitors and documents cases of human rights violations, assists and defends victims and conducts education, training and campaign. It was established in 1995.