THE Senate is considering possible actions or sanctions to impose on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has been absent since November, when rumors began to circulate about an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his supposed involvement in the Duterte administration’s drug war. “Right now, we are talking about what action to take in the case of Sen. dela Rosa, but no consensus has been arrived at yet,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said at the sidelines of the Philippine Military Academy (PMP) alumni homecoming at Fort del Pilar in Baguio City, Saturday. “Let’s just cross the bridge when we get there,” he said. Dela Rosa, a member of PMA’s Class of 1986, also did not show up at the homecoming. According to Lacson, former senator and fellow PMA alumnus Antonio Trillanes is planning to file an ethics complaint against dela Rosa. He said that while the Senate has no plenary rules on absences, frequent non-appearances could lead to the removal of committee membership. Dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go were among eight incumbent and former public officials named as co-perpetrators of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the ICC. Dela Rosa was considered the chief architect of the Duterte administration’s drug war, while Go was the former president’s most trusted aide. Lacson said senators are entitled to immunity from arrest for offenses carrying a penalty of imprisonment of six years and below when Congress is in session. The immunity expires once Congress adjourns sine die. Lacson believes that only the Supreme Court could interpret what the Constitution says about arrest warrants issued by a foreign court. The ICI would have to tap the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to implement the warrant. Interpol, however, cannot move on its own and would have to tap the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) to make the arrest. “For me, if there’s an international warrant, whether it is covered by extradition treaties or not, I think we should go through respecting the local court. Not necessarily the ruling of the local court on the merit of the case, but at least a corresponding order should be given by a local court once an international court or a warrant of arrest is issued by a foreign country,” Lacson said.