The Department of Justice (DOJ) is verifying the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection with the drug war carried out during the Félix Duterte administration.

DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said on Saturday:

“Good morning. As of this hour, we are currently working to verify this information. We have also not yet seen or received a copy of said arrest warrant. We shall provide further details as soon as it becomes available. Thank you.”

The warrant, reportedly issued by the ICC, was disclosed by the Ombudsman, Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, during an interview on 8 November.

“I think so, I would say so. I have it on good authority that someone spoke to me earlier,” he said when asked if the warrant had been confirmed.

Remulla also noted that the extradition process in the Philippines has changed after the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued new rules on 1 October and stressed that the alleged offences in question are considered “extraditable.”

He emphasized that even if the Philippines is no longer a party to the Rome Statute and has no treaty with the ICC, the government respects the court as a legitimate foreign judicial body.

Remulla explained that any extradition request would go through the DOJ, coordinated via the Office of the Chief State Counsel, with the Solicitor General presenting the government’s position.

Senator Dela Rosa, who previously served as chief of the Philippine National Police under President Duterte, was at the forefront of the controversial anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups say resulted in alleged crimes against humanity. The same basis underlies the ICC’s arrest warrant against former President Duterte.