Malacañang on Saturday said it has yet to receive official confirmation regarding reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
“No confirmation,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a text message, responding to a statement by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla that an ICC arrest warrant had been issued against the Senator.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a separate message, clarified that while the ICC may have issued a warrant, it might not have yet transmitted the service through the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for enforcement.
Dela Rosa served as the Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2018 and was the key figure in implementing the “War on Drugs” under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The campaign is currently the subject of an ICC investigation into alleged crimes against humanity.
The Palace said the Marcos administration’s immediate focus now is on preparing for Typhoon Uwan and intensifying disaster response efforts.