MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection with the bloody war against illegal drugs under the Duterte administration, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Saturday, November 8.

“The ICC has issued a warrant against Senator Bato Dela Rosa, a warrant of arrest,” Remulla said during the program Executive Session on DZRH radio.

Asked during the same program if this was already confirmed, he said, “I think so, I would say so. I have it on good authority that someone spoke to me earlier.”

Remulla explained that the alleged offenses are considered “extraditable,” as the country’s extradition process recently changed following the Supreme Court’s new rules on extradition issued on October 1.

He further said that although the Philippines is no longer a member of the Rome Statute and has no existing treaty with the ICC, the government respects the international court as a legitimate foreign judicial body.

Any extradition request would be filed through the Department of Justice, coordinated via the Office of the Chief State Counsel, with the Solicitor General presenting the government’s position, Remulla said.

Dela Rosa served as the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief under the Duterte administration and was at the forefront of the controversial anti-drug campaign, which has been linked to alleged crimes against humanity.

These allegations were also the basis cited in the ICC’s arrest warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was arrested in March at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and brought to the ICC headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, to face allegations of crimes against humanity in connection with his administration’s war on drugs.

The drug war of the Duterte administration reportedly claimed at least 6,000 lives.

Human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor, however, estimated that the death toll during Duterte’s term from 2016 to 2019 was between 12,000 and 30,000, many of which were extrajudicial killings.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), also on Saturday morning, said it is still verifying the information that the ICC has already issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that no red notice against the senator has been issued so far by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

“As per the center for transnational crimes, there has been no red notice issued by the Interpol as of 10 minutes ago,” the DILG was quoted as saying.

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