Metro Manila, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government has no credible information yet regarding a possible International Criminal Court arrest warrant or Interpol red notice against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
“There is no credible information of an impending warrant of arrest from the ICC or the Interpol,” Remulla said during a press briefing on Sunday.
The statement comes amid growing speculation that dela Rosa, the former Philippine National Police chief and chief implementor of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, could face arrest linked to the ICC investigation into alleged crimes against humanity.
Remulla clarified that authorities are not conducting a manhunt against the senator.
“What we do have is now a subpoena for him, but not a manhunt,” he said.
The Interior secretary earlier disclosed that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group would issue a subpoena ordering dela Rosa to appear before investigators in connection with alleged extrajudicial killings during the Duterte administration.
Remulla said the investigation is separate from the ICC process and is based on local complaints and findings from the House Quad Committee hearings.
“I will repeat, we are not a member of the ICC. We are not working with the ICC. This is a purely internal matter that we are doing,” he said.
The DILG chief also confirmed that a previously prepared “10,000-man task force” tied to rumors of a possible ICC warrant had already been dismantled.
“As I said, there is a 10,000-man task force that was in reaction to reports that there was an impending warrant,” Remulla said.
“However, the ICC has said that there is none. So we have dismantled that task force,” he added.
Despite this, Remulla said authorities had already alerted airports, seaports, and other exit points across the country as part of precautionary measures.
“All airports, seaports, points of exit of the Philippines have been alerted. All airlines have been informed,” he said.
Remulla noted that authorities believe dela Rosa remains in the Davao region.
“Based on our info, he’s in the Davao region,” he said.
