NBI Respects Senate Decision on Bato Dela Rosa
NBI – The National Bureau of Investigation confirmed that it will not arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
NBI Director Melvin Matibag explained that the agency respects the Senate’s decision to place Dela Rosa under protective custody. According to Matibag, the NBI recognizes the Senate as a co-equal branch of government and will honor its authority over the senator while he remains under Senate custody. He also expressed hope that Dela Rosa would cooperate and make himself available whenever legal processes or official requests require his presence.
“There was also a resolution to understand that the Senate mentioned that the Senator Bato will be under their custody. So kami naman, on the executive side, we’ll respect the co-equal branch nila, di ba?” NBI director Melvin Matibag said.
Matibag further said that both the Senate and the NBI agreed to conduct separate fact-finding investigations regarding the recent tension involving NBI agents, Dela Rosa, and members of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA). The issue reportedly arose during attempts connected to the ICC warrant and the handling of the senator’s custody status.
“Although the NBI was in contempt, he will be under custody and we will have a change of, on fact finding at magkakaroon kami na exchange ng fact-finding,” the director of the National Bureau of Investigation said.
Although several NBI personnel were cited in contempt by the Senate, the bureau did not oppose the decision. However, the NBI clarified that the involved agents would remain under the agency’s own custody instead of being transferred to Senate custody. The bureau also confirmed that there would be coordination and an exchange of findings between the Senate and the NBI as both sides continue their respective investigations.