The International Criminal Court (ICC) may soon order the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if the prosecution requests it while the tribunal continues to assess the medical condition of former President Rodrigo Duterte, according to ICC-accredited lawyer and Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti on Monday, October 13.
“This issue could actually proceed independently of a warrant of arrest against Bato or others, because at this point, the prosecution is just sitting around and waiting for results. Wala na po siyang ginagawa,” Conti said in a TV interview.
Conti explained that the ICC is currently in consultation with health experts to determine whether Duterte is fit to stand trial. The tribunal has reportedly received results of his medical evaluation, including assessments from a psychiatrist.
Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during Duterte’s administration, was one of the key figures in the controversial war on drugs, which is now the subject of the ICC’s probe on alleged crimes against humanity.
“The prosecution has already built up a case against Bato Dela Rosa at the least. Bato’s name even appears in the documents containing the charges,” Conti said.
However, the lawyer noted that arresting Dela Rosa would be a complex process, as he is an incumbent senator, and law enforcement agencies such as the PNP and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) might hesitate to enforce an ICC warrant against him.
The ICC’s ongoing investigation stems from thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign during his presidency, which Dela Rosa helped lead as the country’s top police official.