Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has officially joined the ranks of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) wanted persons after the tribunal unsealed a warrant for his arrest on Monday. The Senator is being held accountable for his primary role in the violent anti-drug campaign during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I has formally categorized the former police chief’s alleged actions as a matter of international criminal liability.
“as an alleged indirect co-perpetrator pursuant to article 25(3)(a) of the Statute for the crimes against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction of murder and attempted murder(articles 7(1)(a) and 23(3)(f) of the Statute), committed in the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019.”
This timeline is significant as it bridges Dela Rosa’s tenure as Davao City police chief under then-Mayor Duterte and his later promotion to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief during the Duterte presidency. The warrant focuses on systemic summary killings that characterized the “war on drugs” across both periods.
Currently listed as “at large,” Dela Rosa’s name appears on a high-profile ICC list alongside Benjamin Netanyahu and Rodrigo Duterte, the latter of whom is noted as being in ICC custody.
The Senator’s legal team, led by Atty. Israelito Torreon, stated that the move was anticipated. Dela Rosa, who has been largely out of sight since Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed to have seen the warrant in late 2025, made a high-profile return to the Senate on Monday. He has since been placed under protective custody within the Senate premises.