ICC spox on Bato's 'warrant': Can't confirm such news

International Criminal Court (ICC) spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah on Monday declined to confirm reports of a looming warrant against Senator Ronald de la Rosa, implying that such information remains unverified unless announced through official ICC communication channels.

El Abdallah’s statement followed Ombudsman Boying Remulla’s claim that a warrant from the ICC was already out for De la Rosa, who spearheaded the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.

El Abdallah reiterated that all official developments can only be confirmed through the ICC website.

“The ICC can’t confirm such news. ICC news can be found only on ICC official communications channels and press releases, where you could see that only one case to date has been opened, against Mr Duterte,” he said.

Neither Malacañang nor the Department of Justice confirmed the existence of the supposed warrant. Remulla, however, insisted that his information came from sources within the DOJ.

ICC assistant to counsel Kristina Conti, who represents drug war victims, said Remulla remains a credible source due to his previous role as justice secretary and continued access to internal networks.

Generally, ICC warrants are made public. However, the prosecution may request temporary confidentiality if disclosure could impede enforcement.

This mirrors the case of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose warrant was revealed publicly only four days after issuance, by which time he had already been taken into custody.

Conti added that any possible warrant for De la Rosa would not be surprising, noting long-standing speculation that he may be next in line following Duterte’s arrest on 11 March.

De la Rosa, who served as PNP chief from 2016 to mid-2018 before being succeeded by Oscar Albayalde, has been identified as a co-perpetrator in the ICC case against Duterte for crimes against humanity.

The senator has repeatedly argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines after the government’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. However, in September, he stated that he is “ready” should an arrest occur.

Senate President Tito Sotto earlier said the chamber would not allow the enforcement of any warrant within Senate premises, invoking “institutional courtesy,” but noted that incidents occurring outside the Senate are “no longer our concern.”