The International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor has described the unsealing of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s arrest warrant as a significant advance in its pursuit of justice over killings carried out during the Philippine government’s anti-drug campaign.
“Mr. Dela Rosa’s warrant of arrest is an important step in the Office’s ongoing pursuit of accountability for alleged crimes committed in the context of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ campaign in the Philippines,” the OTP said in a statement released shortly after ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I ordered the warrant reclassified from sealed to public.
The tribunal found reasonable grounds to believe Dela Rosa bears criminal responsibility for murder as a crime against humanity, citing his roles as former Davao City Police Director and subsequent chief of the Philippine National Police. The Chamber also determined he acted jointly with other co-perpetrators — among them former President Rodrigo Duterte — in killings that occurred between at least July 3, 2016, and the end of April 2018.
The warrant had been issued on November 6 last year, three days after the OTP filed its formal request, and was conveyed to relevant Philippine authorities at that time. Its existence remained sealed until Pre-Trial Chamber I ordered it made public.
As with the Duterte case, prosecutors noted that the alleged murders cited in the warrant represent only a sample of what they believe to be a potentially broader pattern of conduct. The OTP has reserved the option to seek additional alleged criminal incidents at a later stage of proceedings.
“The Office will continue to work closely with the Registry and all relevant stakeholders to facilitate the execution of the warrant,” the prosecutor’s office stated.
Dela Rosa resurfaced on May 11 after an extended period out of public view and is currently held under the protective custody of the Senate.
