Questions over a supposed International Criminal Court arrest order for Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa intensified after former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp said it had no knowledge of such action, even as other officials continued to hint at its existence.
Duterte’s legal counsel Nicholas Kaufman rejected the suggestion that a new arrest directive had been issued, stressing that the ICC has yet to rule on their challenge questioning the Court’s authority over the former Philippine leader. “I have no information on a supposed arrest warrant for Senator Dela Rosa,” he said.
The uncertainty grew after remarks from former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, who announced online that a warrant “is out” and urged Dela Rosa to insist on being brought first before a Philippine court. “H’wag ka pa-kidnap. Insist that you have the right to be brought before a Philippine court first,” he wrote. Roque did not disclose where his information came from.
Earlier statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla also fueled speculation when he suggested a warrant existed, although he declined to explain why it had not been enforced. “Mayroon (arrest warrant) pero may mga bagay ako na hindi puwede sabihin,” he said. He also remarked, “I can only say it after it is said and done. May mga bagay na hindi puwede sabihin.”
Dela Rosa has since sought a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court to halt any enforcement by the ICC. The senator has been away from Senate sessions since November 11, shortly after Remulla publicly claimed he had “seen” a copy of the alleged document.
Kaufman has repeatedly criticized Remulla’s assertions. On Monday, he questioned the source of the claims. “I do not believe that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla – the unique source of this dubious intelligence – would be so remiss as to dice with prosecution at the ICC for contempt, by leaking the existence of a highly confidential arrest warrant for a suspect. Peddling fake news, however, carries no such risk,” he said.
The ICC has declined to verify whether such a warrant exists, refusing to confirm the claim when asked last November 10.
Meanwhile, Duterte remains held at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague after the Appeals Chamber sustained an earlier ruling rejecting his bid for interim release. His jurisdictional appeal continues following the Pre-Trial Chamber’s determination last October that the Court may proceed with alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Davao Death Squad and the anti-drugs campaign during the period when the Philippines was still under ICC jurisdiction, from November 1, 2011 to March 16, 2019.
Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025 after judges found reasonable grounds to believe he bore responsibility as an “indirect co-perpetrator,” a finding that also identified other alleged participants.
Dela Rosa, who led the Philippine National Police between July 2016 and April 2018, issued Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, the operational plan known as “Project Double Barrel,” which was used to implement Duterte’s anti-drugs campaign.
