MANILA — The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Saturday clarified that no public arrest warrant has been issued in connection with its investigation into the Philippines’ bloody anti-drug campaign, amid mounting speculation that Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa could soon face arrest over alleged crimes against humanity.
In a statement issued in response to media inquiries, the ICC said, “No public arrest warrants have been issued in relation to the situation in the Philippines.”
The clarification came after reports circulated claiming that an arrest warrant may have already been issued against Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and one of the key architects of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
The Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), which serves as the Manila bureau of Interpol, likewise said it has not received any arrest warrant from the ICC.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also said authorities have yet to receive official confirmation regarding any possible warrant against the senator, although preparations are already underway in case one is issued.
“I repeat, this is not an arrest warrant but a subpoena,” Remulla said. “None yet to my information. As far as I am concerned, until I see the official copy, it is hearsay.”
Justice department spokesperson lawyer Polo Martinez similarly said the government still has “no info yet” regarding the matter.
Malacañang also refused to confirm or deny the reports, with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro saying, “I can neither confirm nor deny.”
Despite the absence of official confirmation, Remulla disclosed that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has begun contingency preparations for a possible ICC warrant.
He said the DILG is “preparing a 10k task force for the dragnet operations in case a warrant of arrest for Senator Bato is issued.”
According to Remulla, the agency started organizing the task force after receiving unverified information earlier in the day.
In February, ICC prosecutors identified Dela Rosa as among the alleged co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity case filed against Duterte over the controversial anti-drug campaign.
Prosecutors alleged that Duterte and his associates carried out a “common plan” targeting suspected criminals through violent operations and killings linked to the government’s war on drugs.
Dela Rosa served as Davao City police chief from 2012 to 2013 before becoming chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018 during Duterte’s presidency.
It was under his leadership that anti-drug operations such as “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded” were implemented nationwide.
Official government records placed the number of deaths in anti-drug operations at more than 6,000. Human rights groups, however, estimate the death toll reached around 30,000, including undocumented killings.
Last month, the ICC formally confirmed crimes against humanity charges against Duterte over killings linked to his anti-drug campaign during his time as Davao City mayor and later as president./PN
