No ICC Arrest Warrant for Dela Rosa, Palace Clarifies
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified on Sunday that the international Criminal Court (ICC) has not issued an arrest warrant for Senator “Bato” dela Rosa in connection with the previous governance’s war on drugs. However, Bersamin noted that Philippine authorities would be obligated to arrest the senator if the ICC were to issue a warrant through Interpol.
“Wala (There is none),” Bersamin stated when questioned by reporters at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, prior to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s departure for the United States.Bersamin explained that if a warrant were issued and coursed through Interpol, the Philippines, as a member, would likely follow the same procedure as in the case of former President rodrigo Duterte. “We are not going to do things differently unless the Supreme Court in those pending cases makes a different proclamation about how we should proceed,” he added.
He emphasized that such actions would be non-discriminatory and in accordance with the law, asserting that the government’s actions are never politically motivated.
GMA News Online has reached out to Dela Rosa’s office for comment but had not received a response at the time of reporting.
The Philippine act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity allows authorities to forgo domestic investigation or prosecution if an international court or tribunal is already handling the case. The law permits the surrender or extradition of suspected or accused individuals to the appropriate international court or another state, in line with applicable extradition laws and treaties.Dela Rosa, a close ally of the Duterte family, served as the chief of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s presidency. Duterte himself was arrested by local authorities on March 11, based on an ICC warrant issued through Interpol, and is currently detained in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity related to the drug war.
In March, Dela Rosa was identified on the ICC website as a co-perpetrator of Duterte in the war on drugs. He is recognized as the architect of “Oplan Tokhang,” a controversial anti-drug operation first implemented in Davao City when he was the local police chief. Official police records indicate approximately 6,000 deaths during the drug war, while human rights groups estimate the toll to be as high as 30,000, including vigilante killings.