Philippines orders arrest of fugitive senator wanted by ICC
Former police chief and key figure in Duterte’s “war on drugs” remains at large after slipping from Senate custody; police affirm impartiality but confirm no immediate operation.
The Philippine Justice Department has issued a directive for law enforcement agencies to apprehend Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of alleged crimes against humanity. The order, announced by Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, comes one day after the country’s Supreme Court rejected the senator’s legal application to block his arrest.
Vida described dela Rosa as a “fugitive from justice” and warned that any individual assisting the senator in evading capture would face consequences. The Justice Secretary stated that the government is pursuing the matter to ensure the ends of justice are achieved, although he did not provide specific details regarding intelligence leads on the senator’s current whereabouts.
Dela Rosa, a former police chief who served as the lead enforcer of the “war on drugs” during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2022, has been absent from his Senate duties since May 14. He emerged from six months of hiding last week to seek refuge in the Senate building, but slipped away in the early hours of May 14 following a night marked by chaos and gunfire.
The ICC is investigating the campaign, estimating that between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed between 2016 and 2019. While police operations often attributed these deaths to turf wars, the court is examining allegations of crimes against humanity. Dela Rosa has consistently denied any involvement in or incitement of illegal killings during the period.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez acknowledged the Justice Department’s directive on Thursday, affirming that the force would operate within the bounds of the law. However, he stopped short of confirming any immediate arrest operations, stating that all actions would remain impartial, professional, and respectful of constitutional rights.
The legal proceedings against dela Rosa occur against the backdrop of the detention of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is also accused of crimes against humanity. Duterte has been held in ICC custody in The Hague since March 2025 and maintains his innocence regarding the charges.
While the Justice Secretary did not elaborate on specific location data, lawyers for dela Rosa indicated earlier this week that the senator remains within the Philippines. The government’s renewed push for his apprehension marks a significant escalation in the state’s response to the ICC’s warrants, following the judicial rejection of the senator’s attempts to halt the process domestically.
