MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered heightened border monitoring against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and warned that he will be immediately arrested if he attempts to flee the country following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant against him over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has asked the Supreme Court to reject Dela Rosa’s petition seeking to block the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant, describing the senator as a “fugitive” and arguing that his bid lacks legal basis.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that Philippine authorities have officially received the ICC request for Dela Rosa’s arrest and said law enforcement agencies have been directed to stop the senator from leaving the country.
“I do confirm that there is a valid ICC arrest warrant and a pending request from ICC… it has been duly received by the Philippines,” Vida said during a press briefing.
Vida disclosed that an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has already been issued against the former Philippine National Police chief.
“I’m giving specific orders to law enforcement agencies for border control authorities that if Sen. Bato dela Rosa would try to leave the country that the appropriate arrest should be made,” he said.
The Justice Secretary warned that any attempt by Dela Rosa to leave the Philippines would be treated as an effort to evade accountability.
“The DOJ will treat any attempt of Sen. Bato Dela Rosa to leave the country as a mockery of justice,” he said. “Kung siya ay magtatangkang aalis ng Pilipinas, ibang usapan na iyon.”
Vida said the DOJ respects the Senate’s move to place Dela Rosa under protective custody, but expressed confidence that the chamber would eventually surrender the senator once legal questions surrounding the ICC warrant are settled.
He also stressed that public attention should focus not only on Dela Rosa but on the alleged victims of the anti-drug campaign.
“Dito sa DOJ ang pilit nating pinupunto, tignan din po natin ang biktima,” Vida said. “Tandaan po natin itong arrest warrant ni Sen. Bato Dela Rosa dahil may mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng katarungan.”
The ICC earlier unsealed the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, identifying him as an alleged indirect co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity involving murder and attempted murder allegedly committed from November 2011 to March 2019.
According to the tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to believe that Dela Rosa played a role in killings linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug operations when he served as Davao City police chief and later as PNP chief.
The senator resurfaced at the Senate earlier this week after months away from public view and joined the leadership shakeup that ousted Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Tensions escalated after National Bureau of Investigation agents reportedly attempted to serve the ICC warrant inside the Senate complex, triggering a lockdown and a gunfire scare near the chamber.
Dela Rosa later left the Senate premises before dawn on Thursday./PN
