DOJ has not received ICC arrest warrant for Dela Rosa

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Department of Justice has not received or seen any International Criminal Court warrant of arrest for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said on Monday, December 8.

“We have not officially received and neither have we seen a copy of the warrant of arrest against Sen. De La Rosa as of this time,” Fadullon told NewsWatch Plus.

The statement came after former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that the ICC had already issued a warrant for Dela Rosa’s arrest.

On Dec. 7, Roque, who is currently seeking asylum in Europe, posted on Facebook urging Dela Rosa to chain himself to the Supreme Court to avoid being “kidnapped.” He wrote, “Sen Bato, your warrant of arrest is out! Hwag ka pa-kidnap [Senator Bato, your warrant of arrest is out! Don’t allow yourself to be kidnapped]!”

Roque also told Dela Rosa to seek sanctuary at the Supreme Court, posting, “Sen Bato: mag posas ka na sa loob ng hukuman, preferably sa Supreme Court! Mag sanctuary ka dun! Hwag na hwag ka magpapadukot [Senator Bato: handcuff yourself inside a courtroom, preferably the Supreme Court! Seek sanctuary there! Do not, under any circumstance, let yourself be taken]!”

The DOJ has not verified the existence of any ICC warrant. Roque’s claims followed remarks by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who said in November that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa in connection with alleged crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. Dela Rosa has not appeared in the Senate since Remulla’s announcement.

Dela Rosa previously filed a “very urgent motion” before the Supreme Court seeking to compel the Ombudsman to produce the alleged warrant, but the court rejected the request.

Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2018 and is considered the “architect” of Oplan Tokhang, the Duterte-era campaign against illegal drugs.

The ICC recently amended its regulations to require that all applications for arrest warrants or summons be kept “under seal” unless a chamber decides otherwise. Effective Nov. 10, the ICC stipulates that applications from the Office of the Prosecutor be marked as “secret” to standardize proceedings and protect ongoing investigations. ICC chambers may lift confidentiality on a case-by-case basis, for example, to prevent crimes, maximize chances of arrest, or deter criminal conduct.

An alleged warrant for Dela Rosa would come months after the March 2025 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who faces similar charges before the ICC. 

Malacañang has said that even if a warrant exists, Dela Rosa could not be automatically surrendered to the court, citing a Supreme Court rule requiring that any turnover be processed through the Philippine judiciary.