The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly issued an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a key figure in the previous administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign. The development was confirmed by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Saturday, November 8, during a radio interview.
“I have it on good authority that someone spoke to me earlier,” Remulla stated during DZRH’s Executive Session, effectively confirming the existence of the warrant.
The warrant stems from allegations of crimes against humanity linked to the bloody anti-illegal drug operation, which Dela Rosa supervised as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
These are the same allegations that led to an earlier arrest warrant being served against former President Duterte, who is reportedly detained in The Hague, Netherlands.
Despite the Philippines’ 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, Remulla emphasized that the government respects the court as a legitimate foreign judicial body.
He also noted that the alleged offenses are considered “extraditable” under domestic law.
The Ombudsman added that the process for handling such a request has been clarified by new rules on extradition recently issued by the Supreme Court on October 1.
Remulla outlined the procedural steps: any formal extradition request would be filed through the Department of Justice (DOJ), coordinated by the Office of the Chief State Counsel, with the Solicitor General tasked with presenting the government’s official position.
The reported warrant against Senator Dela Rosa marks a significant escalation in the international judicial scrutiny of the anti-narcotics campaign that defined the Duterte presidency.