The International Criminal Court (ICC) clarified that it cannot confirm whether an arrest warrant has been issued against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection with the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said that official updates regarding ICC cases can only be verified through the court’s communication channels and press releases.
At present, the ICC has only confirmed the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was arrested earlier this year for alleged crimes against humanity tied to thousands of deaths during the anti-drug campaign.
The clarification came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed in a radio interview that the ICC had already issued a warrant of arrest against Dela Rosa.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in The Hague also stated that they have not received any official notice or documents regarding such a warrant.
Dela Rosa faces accusations of crimes against humanity due to his role as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during Duterte’s war on drugs. He was the architect of Oplan Tokhang, the flagship operation under “Project Double Barrel,” which targeted suspected drug users and pushers.
Launched in 2016, Duterte’s war on drugs led to at least 6,000 deaths according to official government data, though human rights groups and ICC prosecutors estimate the toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000. Many victims were poor and allegedly killed without due process.
As PNP chief, Dela Rosa oversaw the implementation of Tokhang, which involved police knocking on doors of suspected drug users and urging them to surrender. The campaign, however, was widely criticized for extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses.
Dela Rosa, now a senator, has repeatedly defended the drug war as necessary to protect communities, but international watchdogs and the ICC continue to investigate its legality and humanitarian impact.