Bato Dela Rosa, namataan sa Europe ilang araw matapos ihayag pagnanais bisitahin FPRRD sa The Hague

– Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was spotted in Europe a couple of days after expressing his intention to visit former president Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague

– The European trip comes shortly after Sen. Bato’s proclamation as a senator on May 17, as he had previously indicated plans for a family vacation that would include seeing his political ally, Duterte

– It wasn’t clear, however, if The Hague is indeed listed in his Europe travel itinerary

– The context of the senator’s travel is highlighted by his own potential legal exposure to the ICC’s investigation into the past administration’s anti-drug campaign, having been a key figure

Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has been sighted in Europe, an observation that comes just days after he publicly expressed his intention to visit former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.

Sen. Bato himself shared a photograph from a European location on his social media account on Saturday, May 24, 2025, commenting on the still-chilly weather.

“Malamig pa rin pala ngayon sa Europe,” the senator’s post read, translating to “It’s still cold in Europe.”

This social media update quickly fueled speculation regarding his travel objectives, given his recent pronouncements.

Just a week prior, following his proclamation as a senator on May 17, Senator Bato had indicated his plans for a family vacation which would include a visit to his political ally, former President Duterte.

At present, Duterte is under the custody of the ICC as part of the ongoing investigation into the previous administration’s campaign against illegal drug5.

The senator and former PNP Chief had previously stated his intention to apply for a Schengen visa, which is required for entry into many European countries, including the Netherlands.

He also mentioned that he would seek the approval of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea before proceeding with any visit to The Hague.

“Mag-try ako mag-apply ng Schengen visa. At kung bibigyan ako, tanungin ko sa ES Medialdea kung okay ba kung pumunta ako doon [ICC],” the senator was quoted as saying.

The context of Senator Dela Rosa’s European trip is significant given his own potential legal vulnerability related to the ICC’s investigation.

As the former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the initial phase of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, Dela Rosa is among the prominent figures whose names have been repeatedly linked to the ICC’s inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity.

Reports have suggested that he is one of the individuals the international tribunal may eventually seek to arrest.

Senator Bato has previously taken various stances on the ICC’s jurisdiction and his potential arrest.

While he had, at one point, affirmed his readiness to surrender if an arrest warrant were issued, he later expressed a desire to exhaust all legal remedies within the Philippines first, including a Supreme Court petition, before considering any move that might entail facing the international court.

He even mentioned, in a past interview, that he might consider “hiding” if justice was not attainable domestically.

More recently, in a widely circulated video from early April, he humorously remarked about wearing a wig to avoid being recognized should he visit Duterte in The Hague.

The appearance of Senator Bato in Europe at this time, following Duterte’s arrest by the ICC in March 2025 and subsequent detention, adds a layer of complexity to the unfolding legal and political drama surrounding the previous administration’s drug war.

The senator’s journey invites further scrutiny, with observers closely watching whether his visit to The Hague will indeed materialize as he had publicly stated.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, a woman was fatally shot by riding-in-tandem suspects while she was having a drink with some friends on a roadside in Sampaloc, Manila. The 30-year-old woman was killed after being shot in the nape by assailants on a motorcycle on Thursday evening, May 22. The victim’s live-in partner, a barangay tanod, sustained a gunshot wound to the knee, and another tanod was grazed in the chest after pursuing the fleeing suspects who fired additional shots. Authorities are actively investigating the identity of the perpetrators and potential motives for the attack, including whether the backrider was female and if a “love triangle” was involved.

Still in other news, a 23-year-old man suffered from physical injuries after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of young men. According to the report of GMA Regional TV, the victim, Mat Ernest Bongo brought his female co-worker home and it was thereafter that the alleged assault took place. He sustained injuries in different parts of his body. Based on the report, the victim was also allegedly robbed by the same group.