The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) firmly stands by the validity of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on May 19.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag clarified the agency's stance amid ongoing legal debates surrounding the high-profile case. 

Despite the complexities of the international order, the bureau recognizes the legal weight of the warrant issued for the lawmaker.

Matibag acknowledged that while a petition regarding the matter remains pending before the Supreme Court, the law enforcement agency respects the ongoing judicial process. 

He emphasized that both the NBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) closely monitor and defer to the high tribunal's guidance. 

However, he maintained that the outstanding legal questions do not diminish the current legitimacy of the ICC’s directive.

"There is an ongoing case sa Supreme Court. And alam niyo naman, from the point of view of the lawyers, including the DOJ, we always somehow listen to the Supreme Court. But, one thing is clear, the warrant is valid." NBI Director Matibag told reporters

The declaration signals a critical development in the country's shifting dynamics with international legal bodies.