THE camp of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Saturday that it has yet to receive any official confirmation that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant of arrest against the former police chief.
The statement came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, in a radio interview, claimed that the ICC had released an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa.
In a statement, Dela Rosa’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon said: “We have been made aware of circulating reports claiming that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa. At this point, we do not have independent confirmation as to whether or not this information is accurate.”
Torreon urged the public and the media “to exercise caution and restraint in sharing or interpreting such reports until verified information is officially released by competent authorities or by the ICC itself.”
Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Atty. Raphael Niccolo “Polo” Martinez echoed this, saying the DOJ is still verifying the report and has not received any official copy of the alleged warrant.
Remulla earlier said the information about the warrant was relayed to him by acting Justice Secretary Eric Vida.
“If proven true, we trust that the Philippine government will act in accordance with the rule of law, and that any such action shall first pass through the proper local judicial confirmation process consistent with our Constitution, due process, and the sovereign rights of the Republic of the Philippines,” Torreon added.
Dela Rosa’s camp said it will await official confirmation before making further statements.
Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded” campaigns against illegal drugs.
Duterte is currently detained at the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, Netherlands, after the ICC issued a warrant of arrest against him for crimes against humanity.
The ICC Prosecutor has charged the former president with 49 counts of murder and attempted murder, allegedly committed during his term as Davao City mayor and later as president.
According to government data, about 6,200 suspects were killed during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug operations, although human rights organizations estimate the number could reach up to 30,000, citing unreported killings.