DOJ: NO PLAN YET IF ICC ISSUES WARRANTS VS. GO, DELA ROSA

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to draw up any contingency plans in case the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues warrants of arrest against Senators Bong Go and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection with the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.

“We have yet to talk about it. I do not think they want to leave the country. We will cross the bridge when we get there,” Remulla said in an interview.

His statement came after former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV claimed that the ICC might issue the warrants as early as 2026. Trillanes is among the complainants who filed cases before the international tribunal against former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity during his administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Senator Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under Duterte, was one of the key figures in implementing the drug war. Senator Bong Go, a long-time aide and close ally of Duterte, has also been linked to the issue due to his involvement in the administration’s inner circle.

The possible ICC warrants are believed to stem from the international court’s ongoing probe into thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings under Duterte’s term—a campaign widely criticized by human rights groups both locally and abroad.

The former president remains detained at The Hague, Netherlands, pending proceedings related to the charges filed against him.

As of now, the DOJ maintains that there is no formal discussion or directive regarding how the Philippine government would respond should the ICC proceed with the issuance of warrants against the two senators.

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