The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reportedly issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
Speaking in a dzRH radio interview on Saturday, Remulla said, “The ICC has issued a warrant against Senator Bato dela Rosa, a warrant of arrest.” When pressed for confirmation, he added, “I think so. I would say so. I have it on good authority; someone spoke to me earlier.”
As of press time, the ICC has yet to release an official statement confirming the warrant.
Dela Rosa served as the Philippine National Police chief when the Duterte government launched its controversial anti-drug campaign in 2016. The former president, Rodrigo Duterte, is currently detained under the ICC’s jurisdiction in The Hague following his arrest in March at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. He faces charges of crimes against humanity related to the bloody campaign.
Government data records around 6,000 deaths linked to anti-drug operations between 2016 and 2019. However, international human rights groups and the ICC prosecutor estimate the real toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000, many of which are alleged extrajudicial killings.
