Harry Roque claimed that Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is already the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest order, prompting him to caution the lawmaker against leaving the country. In a Facebook post on December 7, Roque declared: “Sen. Bato, your warrant of arrest is out! Hwag ka pa-kidnap! Insist that you have the right to be brought before a Philippine court first!”
Roque’s statement surfaced after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier alleged that the ICC had issued an arrest directive linked to extrajudicial killings tied to the former administration’s anti-drug operations. Remulla said he learned about the supposed development from former Department of Justice contacts and from an individual he described as a liaison for the international court.
Despite those assertions, the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Interior and Local Government each reported they have not received any official document confirming such a warrant. The DILG further noted that Interpol has not issued a Red Notice for Dela Rosa.
The senator previously headed the Philippine National Police during the height of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug campaign, which has been the subject of an ICC investigation into alleged crimes against humanity. Since November, when Remulla first mentioned the alleged warrant, Dela Rosa has been absent from Senate sessions and has not made public appearances.
Roque is currently seeking asylum in The Netherlands, where Duterte remains detained while facing proceedings before the ICC.
