CAGAYAN de Oro City - The NAGKAISA Labor Coalition said the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa cannot be ignored or delayed, stressing that a warrant already recognized as valid by the President must be enforced under the rule of law.

Atty. Sonny Matula, N1 Chair of NAGKAISA and concurrent president of the Federation of Free Workers, disclosed that the coalition welcomed the Supreme Court’s 9-5-1 vote denying Dela Rosa’s plea for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the implementation of the ICC warrant.

“A warrant recognized as valid by the President must be enforced without delay. The rule of law cannot be placed on hold like a pending playlist,” NAGKAISA said.

The coalition noted that the Office of the President, as the primary architect of foreign policy, had already declared that the ICC warrant is valid within Philippine jurisdiction.

“There is no arbitrary arrest in enforcing the ICC warrant. It was issued by a judge who personally found reasonable grounds to believe that crimes were committed — a standard substantially equivalent to probable cause under Philippine law and jurisprudence,” NAGKAISA said.

NAGKAISA also emphasized that the issue involves accountability, due process, and the country’s obligations under domestic and international law.

“The Constitution is not a jail cell for justice. It is a shield against arbitrary arrest,” the coalition said.

“Ang batas ay hindi taguan ng may kapangyrihanon. The ruling appears to recognize, at least at this stage, that an ICC warrant issued by an independent judge upon probable cause may be validly treated within our legal system.”

The coalition pointed out that Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution requires warrants to be issued upon probable cause personally determined by “the judge,” noting that the provision does not specifically state “Philippine judge.”

Read also: In Senate custody row: ICC warrant sparks clash

“Under a living Constitution, justice is not trapped in 1987 like an old cassette tape,” NAGKAISA said. “The word ‘judge’ may include a judge of a competent international tribunal, especially when dealing with crimes against humanity.”

Matula also rejected claims that enforcing the ICC warrant would amount to surrendering a Filipino citizen to foreign control.

“Contrary to the argument of Senator Bato’s lawyers, the Philippines is not delivering him to a foreign jurisdiction like a coin-fed jukebox playing someone else’s tune,” Matula said.

“We are dealing with the surrender of a person covered by a valid warrant of arrest, issued by an independent judicial authority, for alleged crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court — an international tribunal with which our own law, RA 9851, recognizes cooperation,” he added.

NAGKAISA stressed that crimes against humanity are part of customary international law, covered under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, and expressly recognized under Republic Act No. 9851, which also provides for cooperation with international tribunals under Section 17.

“This is not blind obedience to a foreign power. This is compliance with the rule of law in cases involving crimes that shock the conscience of humankind,” the coalition said.