Confusion erupted on Saturday after the International Criminal Court (ICC) denied reports that it had issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a key architect of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs.
The claim was first made by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who told Reuters via text message that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had relayed information about a warrant for Dela Rosa’s arrest. The ICC, however, quickly refuted the statement.
“No. ICC news can only be found on ICC official communications channels and press releases,” ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said in an email response, dismissing the report.
The Department of Justice said it was still working to confirm whether a warrant indeed exists.
“We have not yet received a copy of said arrest warrant. We shall provide further details as soon as it becomes available,” DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, speaking for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s office, also stated that the government had not yet verified the report independently.
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The office of Senator Dela Rosa, who previously served as Duterte’s national police chief, has not commented publicly on the alleged warrant.
A document filed by ICC prosecutors in connection with Duterte’s case reportedly mentions Dela Rosa, citing his public statements and command role during the anti-drug campaign that left thousands of people dead between 2016 and 2022.
Dela Rosa acknowledged earlier this year that he had received a formal communication from the ICC concerning alleged extrajudicial killings tied to the war on drugs, which prosecutors classify as crimes against humanity.
Duterte was arrested in March and transferred to The Hague under an ICC warrant linking him to the murders of suspected drug offenders. He has consistently denied wrongdoing, arguing that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines since the country withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.
Both Duterte and Dela Rosa have petitioned the Philippine Supreme Court to block further government cooperation with the ICC investigation. The high court’s recent approval of new extradition rules, according to Ombudsman Remulla, would apply if the ICC issues a verified warrant against Dela Rosa.
The war on drugs, one of Duterte’s defining policies, led to the deaths of over 6,000 people, according to official data. Rights groups, however, estimate the true toll to be several times higher, alleging widespread abuses and police cover-ups.
As of Saturday, the ICC has not listed Dela Rosa among its public warrants, and no formal statement confirming an arrest order has been issued.
The Philippine government has pledged to release further information once it receives official confirmation from international authorities.