Ombudsman Boying Remulla confirmed on Saturday that an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Bato dela Rosa but did not disclose why it has yet to be enforced.
“I can only say it after it is said and done. May mga bagay na hindi puwede sabihin,” Remulla said.
“Mayroon (arrest warrant) pero may mga bagay ako na hindi puwede sabihin,” he added.
The Ombudsman noted that dela Rosa is still in the Philippines.
“He’s supposed to be in Pampanga. We’re tracing his whereabouts once in a while,” he said.
Remulla earlier received a copy of the “unofficial” ICC arrest warrant related to crimes against humanity linked to dela Rosa’s role in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the Philippine government has not received any Interpol request to arrest dela Rosa, but will give the Supreme Court courtesy to address petitions challenging the warrant once issued.
Dela Rosa’s legal counsel maintains that, following the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, any ICC warrant has “no automatic force within the Philippine territory.”