MANILA — Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has been ordered to appear before investigators this week after the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) issued a subpoena in connection with more than 100 alleged extrajudicial killing (EJK) complaints linked to his tenure as a police official in Davao.
PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño confirmed Monday that the subpoena, dated May 10, directed Dela Rosa to appear before CIDG investigators at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Thursday at 10 a.m.
The subpoena marks the first formal move by local authorities against the senator amid renewed scrutiny over killings associated with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The development also came amid reports claiming that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, although Philippine officials said they have not received any such order.
According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the inquiry covers more than 100 complaints involving alleged EJK cases during Dela Rosa’s stint as Davao City police director and regional director.
“It’s all related to the 100-plus complaints of EJK that occurred during his term as City Director and Regional Director of Davao,” he added.
Remulla stressed that the CIDG probe is independent of the ICC proceedings involving former President Rodrigo Duterte and other personalities linked to the controversial war on drugs.
“We are not a member of the ICC. We are not working with the ICC. This is a purely internal matter that we are doing,” he said./PN
