MANILA – Amid growing speculation over potential arrests related to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the Philippines’ deadly war on drugs, Malacañang has clarified that no formal communication has been received from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) regarding any arrest warrants for individuals linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The clarification comes in the wake of reports suggesting Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Duterte’s former top cop and principal implementer of the drug crackdown, could be the next target of international legal action.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa po tayong natatanggap na anumang communication kung mayroon na pong warrant of arrest para sa mga co-perpetrators ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” said Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro in a press briefing on Thursday.
Earlier, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was quoted in reports as saying that if the ICC were to issue a warrant against Dela Rosa and it were supported by an Interpol red notice, the arrest could proceed.
Duterte was arrested at the airport on March 11 following his return from Hong Kong. He was flown to The Hague, Netherlands, the following day and turned over to the ICC Detention Center in Scheveningen to await trial for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his administration’s brutal anti-drug campaign.
Dela Rosa, who led the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s presidency, played a central role in the implementation of the controversial operation./PN
