The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
During a press briefing, Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that both law enforcement agencies received explicit instructions to execute the international arrest order.
“Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice and he should be brought to the ICC to face the charges,” Vida stated.
The directive follows a high-profile security breach at the Senate premises in Pasay City. Dela Rosa had previously been placed under Senate protective custody but managed to slip out of the building shortly after a May 13 shooting incident involving an NBI agent and the Senate’s chief security officer.
The gunfire reportedly erupted when NBI operatives attempted to serve the warrant on the senator. The ICC has tagged Dela Rosa as a co-conspirator in the crimes against humanity case linked to the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Vida defended the government’s move, asserting that the order to apprehend the lawmaker stems from a “validly issued” warrant from the international tribunal.
Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief and the primary implementer of Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, has maintained his innocence.
The legislator has publicly questioned the legality of the operation, arguing that an ICC warrant cannot be enforced domestically without a corresponding order from a Philippine court.