12/05/2026
SUPREME COURT RELEASES URGENT PLEADING DETAILING ALLEGED CONFRONTATION AT SENATE OVER ICC WARRANT
The Supreme Court of the Philippines has officially released a high-stakes legal document involving the ongoing case of Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa versus Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and other top officials. The document, an Extremely Urgent Supplemental Manifestation filed under G.R. No. 278747, outlines a series of explosive events that allegedly took place at the Senate of the Philippines on May 11, 2026.
According to the manifestation released by the Court’s Public Information Office, the legal camp of Senator Dela Rosa is seeking immediate judicial intervention following what they describe as a direct attempt by executive law enforcement to bypass domestic legal protocols. The pleading alleges that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives were deployed to the Senate premises to physically block Senator Dela Rosa from entering the Session Hall while the Senate was in active session. This action, the petitioners argue, is a grave violation of the 1987 Constitution and the Revised Penal Code, which specifically protects members of Congress from being prevented from attending sessions.
The document further details the unexpected appearance of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV at the Senate on the same afternoon. The manifestation claims that Trillanes arrived carrying and publicly displaying what he represented to be an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. This development reportedly led to a temporary lockdown of the Senate building as security protocols were heightened.
A central theme of the legal filing is the "irony of precedent," where the petitioners remind the Supreme Court of a 2018 declaration by then-Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III. At that time, Sotto provided institutional sanctuary to then-Senator Trillanes to preserve the dignity of the chamber when he faced an arrest order. The manifestation argues that Trillanes is now attempting to deny that very same institutional protection to a sitting member of the Senate.
The petitioners are formally asking the Supreme Court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order or a Writ of Preliminary Injunction. They argue that no arrest, detention, or transfer to a foreign tribunal can legally occur within Philippine territory without prior authorization and a warrant issued by a Philippine judge. By publishing this pleading on its official platforms, the Supreme Court has signaled that these developments are a matter of significant public interest, as the nation awaits a ruling on the legal force of foreign warrants within the country’s sovereign jurisdiction.
SC Article: Newly uploaded pleading in current cases involving public interest:
G.R. No. 278747 (Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa v. Hon. Lucas Bersamin, et al.)
Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Prayer for TRO/Injunction
- Extremely Urgent Supplemental Manifestation with Motion: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/.../EXTREMELY-URGENT...
Copies of recent pleadings and orders in cases involving public interest are regularly uploaded to the Current Cases page of the website. SCAN the QR Code for the latest uploads.
📷: Supreme Court PH
