Ombudsman Boying Remulla appears to have confirmed the circulating reports regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing a warrant of arrest against Senator Bato dela Rosa.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, November 19, Remulla told the public to “wait and see” regarding the purported arrest warrant.
“Abangan,” he began, “be patient, everything is a process.”
Remulla explained that they are awaiting the transmittal of the warrant of arrest through a concomitant request from the ICC.
“Ano ‘yan, transmittal lang naman ‘yan ng warrant with the concomitant request na kasama to arrest,” he said.
“It can be in the PCTC, it can be an email to the DOJ, it can be an email to the DFA,” he clarified.
He added that he happened to have seen a copy of the ICC arrest warrant against dela Rosa but did not provide further details on where he obtained it.
“Nagkataon lang na nakita ko ‘yong kopya ng warrant kaya alam ko,” he concluded.
Remulla had previously publicized the alleged ICC action against dela Rosa in a radio interview on November 8, stating that an arrest warrant already exists.
Before becoming a senator, dela Rosa served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, which led the controversial anti-drug campaign.
Remulla also reiterated in an interview on November 18 that he already had a copy of the ICC arrest warrant against the senator.