26/05/2026
Is the Law Only for the Poor?
In a country that constantly promises โequal justice under the law,โ the Philippines once again faces an uncomfortable truth: justice does not seem to apply equally to everyone.
On May 11, 2026, the International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald โBatoโ dela Rosa over alleged crimes against humanity connected to the bloody war on drugs. According to the ICC, there are โreasonable groundsโ to believe that he bears criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator in the deaths of at least 32 individuals between 2016 and 2018.
Yet instead of encouraging him to face the allegations and submit himself to the legal process, some government officials and members of the Senate appear willing to shield him. This raises a serious and troubling question: How can the very institution responsible for creating and upholding the law be seen protecting someone facing an arrest warrant?
Under the Presidential Decree No. 1829 or the Obstruction of Justice Law, any person who โknowingly or willfully obstructs, impedes, frustrates or delays the apprehension of suspectsโ may be held liable. The law also specifically mentions โharboring or concealingโ individuals in order to prevent their arrest and prosecution. This is why former Senator Leila de Lima argued that some senators could potentially face charges of obstruction of justice or harboring a fugitive if they intentionally refuse to surrender Senator Dela Rosa to authorities. Lawmakers, after all, are not exempt from the laws they are expected to respect and enforce. What she said is right.
When an ordinary Filipino has a warrant of arrest, there are rarely long debates about โprotective custody.โ There are no privileged discussions about political implications. Authorities simply carry out the warrant. Anyone who hides or protects the suspect risks immediate legal consequences. So why does the situation suddenly become more complicated when the accused is powerful? Why is it that when poor citizens are accused, they are told to โfollow the law,โ but when influential officials are involved, people begin looking for loopholes, delays, and political justifications?
What makes the situation even more disappointing is that senators and government officials are supposed to set the highest example for the public. They are the very people tasked with creating laws, defending the Constitution, and ensuring that justice is properly implemented. If the lawmakers themselves appear willing to ignore or bend the law for political allies, what message does that send to ordinary Filipinos? Public officials should be the first to uphold accountability, not the first to weaken it.
The Senate should symbolize integrity, responsibility, and respect for the rule of law. Instead, the ongoing controversy creates the impression that power and influence can still outweigh justice in the Philippines.
This is what deeply frustrates the public. It is not only the possibility that a wanted individual may be protected, but also the dangerous message it sends: that some people may be above the law. But as they always say, "No one is above the law."
The issue becomes even more painful considering that many victims of the war on drugs were poor Filipinos who never received proper due process. Many families continue to wait for accountability, justice, and truth. Now that one of the key figures associated with that campaign is finally being asked to face legal scrutiny, some leaders appear more interested in protecting him than in defending the principles of justice.
It is deeply alarming that the Senate, an institution meant to symbolize accountability, democracy, and the rule of law is now being questioned for allegedly sheltering someone sought by international justice.
This issue is no longer just about politics. It is not merely about political camps, loyalty, or ideology. It is about principle. If the Philippines truly believes that โno one is above the law,โ then that principle must apply most especially to those in power. Because if lawmakers themselves appear willing to bend the law for their allies, how can ordinary Filipinos continue believing in the fairness of the justice system?
In the end, it is not only Senator Ronald โBatoโ dela Rosa who is being judged by the public. But also the integrity of the Senate and the credibility of Philippine justice itself are also on trial.
By: Gay-Ann Manlises
Layout: Gerald Shem Masagca
