The Philippine political arena is currently consumed by a storm of sensational claims and deep-seated suspicion, centered on the ominous news of an alleged International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for sitting Senator Bato Dela Rosa. Far from being seen as a straightforward legal development, a powerful narrative has emerged, charging the current administration with a profound act of political betrayal: actively conspiring with international bodies to eliminate its most potent domestic rivals ahead of the 2028 elections.

This extraordinary theory, fueled by commentary from influential voices like the host of BALITANG PINOY TV, posits that the entire ICC saga is a calculated political maneuver—a “plan” designed to “discredit and disqualify” key opposition figures. The core message is a devastating indictment of the state of democracy: the incumbent powers are allegedly fighting not just to win, but to ensure their political rivals are removed from the battlefield entirely, by any means necessary.

The Conspiracy: An ICC Warrant as a Political Weapon
The controversy ignited when news broke, referencing Ombudsman Boying Remulla, that the ICC had allegedly issued an arrest warrant for Senator Dela Rosa concerning the “war on drugs.” The commentary immediately framed this not as a legal surprise, but as a deliberate political signal.

The commentator, expressing his “personal belief,” launched into a series of pointed questions: “Gaano ba ito katotoo? … May kinaugnayan ba ang ating presidente dito? May kinaugnayan ba ang ating administrasyon dito? Ha? Sinadya ba ito?” (How true is this? … Does our president have a connection to this? Does our administration have a connection to this? Ha? Was this intentional?).

The answers provided by the commentary are chilling: “I still believe this is part of their plan. The administration is an accomplice to what the ICC is doing. I even doubt it, it’s the administration’s idea. They just suggested it to the ICC.” This accusation of secret collusion paints a picture of a political elite willing to leverage international legal mechanisms to serve its own self-preservation.

The explicit motive, according to the source, is the 2028 national election. Senator Dela Rosa is viewed as a formidable potential candidate for Vice President, and his political faction—which includes the former President and the current Vice President, VP Sara Duterte—is perceived as a threat that must be neutralized. The claim is that the administration is desperate to “do everything to oust them from office or disqualify them in the 2028 election.”

The Administration’s Alleged Betrayal of Public Will
The intensity of the criticism is amplified by the belief that this alleged conspiracy is an act of defiance against the popular will. The host repeatedly accused the current leadership of refusing to accept reality: “Hindi nila tanggap na talo sila. Hindi nila tanggap na isinusuka na sila ng taong bayan. Hindi nila tanggap na mga Duterte, kaalyado ni Duterte, ang minamahal ng taong bayan. Bakit kayo ganyan?” (They don’t accept that they lost. They don’t accept that the people are throwing them up. They don’t accept that the Dutertes, allies of Duterte, are the ones the people love. Why are you like that?).

This narrative transforms the political struggle into a dramatic conflict between the few in power and the wishes of the majority. The commentator uses strong language to detail the alleged political persecution already underway:

The former President was already “jailed.”

VP Sara is facing alleged plans to “impeach” her.

Now, Senator Dela Rosa is being targeted with the ICC warrant.

The repeated emphasis is that the administration, in its political obstinacy, has become “that stubborn” and is acting against the principles of democracy: “If sa karamihan sa mga Pilipino ang gusto ay Duterte, irespeto natin ‘yan” (If the majority of Filipinos want Duterte, we should respect that). The act of allegedly using the ICC to silence popular rivals is thus framed as an attack on the democratic rights of the people.

A Stark Warning: Do Not Trust the Promises of Protection
Perhaps the most visceral element of the commentary is the explicit, urgent warning issued directly to Senator Dela Rosa. Given the alleged conspiracy, the host argues that the Senator cannot trust any promises of protection from the administration or its allies in the Senate.

The warning is rooted in past precedent, arguing that the administration has already shown it cannot be relied upon: “don’t immediately believe what the administration says… ‘Yan rin ang sinasabi nila dati nung panahon ni Duterte ‘di ba? Anong ginawa nila? Hinuli nila. Kaya huwag kayong magkumpyansa sa mga sasabihin ng administrasyon dahil lahat ng sasabihin ng administrasyon kabangagan ‘yan. Kabaliktaran.” (Don’t immediately believe what the administration says… That’s what they said during Duterte’s time, right? What did they do? They arrested him. So don’t be complacent with what the administration says because everything the administration says is nonsense. The opposite.)

The Senate’s official position—expressed by Senate President Tito Sotto—that they would preserve the dignity of the chamber by protecting the senator inside the premises but not outside—is treated with deep suspicion. The host warns the Senator that “Bato, get ready, because this administration can no longer be trusted.”

The commentary highlights Dela Rosa’s initial, defiant statement upon hearing the news: he said he was “handa raw siyang samahan ng dating pangulo sa detension habang nahaharap sa crimes against humanity” (ready to join the former president in detention while facing crimes against humanity). However, this defiance is contrasted with the cold, calculating nature of the political forces allegedly arrayed against him.

The Stakes of Political Warfare
This highly charged public conversation underscores the high stakes of current political warfare. If the claims are to be believed, the legal processes of an international court are being manipulated for hyper-local political gain, sacrificing the principles of justice for the temporary advantage of political survival.

The commentator’s strong personal loyalty to the former administration, stating that the former President “only protected the Filipino people,” serves to heighten the sense of political persecution and righteous indignation. The narrative appeals directly to the public’s sentiment of political loyalty and fear of oppression.

Ultimately, the viral nature of this story lies in its ability to tap into the public’s greatest anxieties: that the government is not only corrupt but is actively working against its own citizens’ expressed political preferences. The struggle over the ICC warrant for Senator Dela Rosa, in this interpretation, is not a trial by law, but a battle for political survival, with the 2028 election—and the future leadership of the country—hanging precariously in the balance.