Duterte lawyer denies ICC arrest warrant for Bato: ‘A figment of Remulla’s imagination’

Nicolas Kaufman, legal counsel of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC), dismissed reports claiming that a warrant of arrest had been issued against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

The clarification came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Saturday claimed that Dela Rosa — who served as Philippine National Police chief during Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign — is facing an ICC arrest order.

Kaufman rejected the claim, calling it “a figment of Ombudsman Remulla’s fertile imagination.”

“It goes against all common sense and prosecutorial logic for the ICC to issue further warrants in the context of the Philippines investigation until the issue of its ability to exercise jurisdiction over the so-called war on drugs has been finally resolved on appeal,” Kaufman said.

On 23 October, the ICC rejected Duterte’s bid to stop the trial, ruling that the Court retains jurisdiction because the preliminary examination into the Philippines’ drug war began before the country submitted its written notice of withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The date of that written notification is considered the effectivity date of the withdrawal.

The alleged warrant against Dela Rosa has yet to be officially confirmed. Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Polo Martinez said on Saturday that the DOJ is still working to verify the reported warrant.