MANILA – Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s lead legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, clarified on Thursday that the pictures he had previously shared on social media with his client were not taken recently, despite public conjecture that the pictures were connected to reports of an alleged arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

According to Torreon, the images were shot on May 22, 2025, during a meeting in a Lanang, Davao City, retail center. This was months before there was a resurgence of interest in potential ICC action against individuals connected to the Duterte administration’s fight on illegal narcotics.

“Nung nakita ko kasi mga pictures ko, nadaanan ko iyon, ang na-post ko lang pala yung meeting namin nung May 22 yung sa anak ko lang. E di pinost ko na lang yun, kasi nag meeting kami… para kumustahin siya at iparating sa kanya na maraming huma-hunting sa kanya,” Torreon told ABS-CBN News.

Torreon claimed surprise that the post was seen as an attempt to obstruct justice or as a recent meeting.

“Eh iba intindi nang mainstream media, nagkita raw kami tapos mayroon pang isang abogado… na nagsabi obstruction of justice daw ako, ano obstruction of justice doon? Nagpost lang ako na i-hi siya, kumusta siya parang ganun, so walang ibig sabihin yun, di kami nagkita recently,” he added.

The last time he had a face-to-face conversation with Dela Rosa, he said, was in November following Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s statement regarding an alleged ICC warrant.

Torreon said, “Basta procedural moves lang naman, lawyers have authority to do anything and everything so long as it is in protection of the rights of my client, I do my thing.”

In connection to thousands of killings during police anti-drug operations, the ICC has been looking into suspected crimes against humanity.

At the height of the campaign, Dela Rosa was the head of the Philippine National Police. He has denied any misconduct and insists that the court has no jurisdiction over him.

Torreon said he received a commemorative watch from the senator’s family, but he added that aside from court-related issues, he and the senator had not discussed personal plans.