The Supreme Court En banc denied the request of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or status quo ante order (SQAO) against the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Voting 9-5-1 during a special session the En Banc denied Dela Rosa’s prayer for interim relief. Although the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the main legal issues.

In his manifestations before the High Court, Dela Rosa sought a TRO and/or SQAO to prevent several government agencies from arresting him on the basis of any warrant issued by the ICC, any Interpol red notice or diffusion, or any foreign judicial or quasi-judicial instrument without a corresponding Philippine judicial warrant.

A status quo ante order is a court directive that seeks to restore the situation to the state it was in before the disputed act or event took place. In Dela Rosa’s case, the requested SQAO aimed to prevent the enforcement of possible international arrest mechanisms against him while the petition remains pending before the Court.

Among the agencies named in the petition were the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Immigration, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

The High Court also announced that the full resolution, including the separate concurring and dissenting opinions of the justices, will be uploaded to the SC website on May 25, 2026.

Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said he ordered the authorities to arrest Dela Rosa if he tries to leave the Philippines.

The senator has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to surrender him to The Hague-based tribunal.

Duterte has been in the custody of the ICC since March 12, 2025.