ICC Issues Arrest Warrant Against Senator Bato Dela Rosa

Senator Dela Rosa Faces ICC Arrest Warrant Amid Drug War Investigation

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, as confirmed by Philippine Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on November 8.

Dela Rosa, a retired police general and current senator, served as chief of the Philippine National Police during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, which has been linked to numerous alleged human rights violations and crimes against humanity. This development marks a major escalation in the ICC’s investigation into abuses under the Duterte administration.

Ombudsman Remulla confirmed the warrant during a radio interview, noting that the ICC considers the alleged offenses “extraditable” under international law. He explained that although the Philippines is no longer a member of the Rome Statute and has no active treaty with the ICC, the government respects the court as a legitimate foreign judicial body. Any extradition request would go through the Department of Justice, coordinated with the Office of the Chief State Counsel, with the Solicitor General representing the government’s position. The process has also been affected by new Supreme Court rules on extradition issued on October 1.

Dela Rosa has been a central figure in the drug war, which drew widespread criticism both locally and internationally. He previously served as director general of the Bureau of Corrections and has been a senator since 2019. During a Senate hearing in October 2024, Duterte himself identified Dela Rosa as one of the heads of his so-called “death squad,” which has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected criminals. These same allegations were the basis for the ICC’s arrest warrant against Duterte, who has been detained in The Hague, Netherlands, since March 2025.