DILG chief: No arrest for Bato without official ICC warrant
The senator has argued that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines following the country’s 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
Photo courtesy of DILG Philippines/FB
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday confirmed that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains in his hometown of Davao City, but maintained that the government cannot take action against him without an official arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate since November, shortly after Ombudsman Boying Remulla — the Interior secretary’s brother — claimed to have seen an ICC warrant for the senator’s arrest.
The DILG chief, however, dismissed those claims as “speculation.”
“We can’t take any action on that unless there is an actual arrest warrant. There isn’t one yet. I haven’t seen anything,” said Remulla, adding that the ombudsman has been “evasive” in presenting the document.
The alleged warrant stems from Dela Rosa’s role as the chief of the Philippine National Police during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. As police chief, Dela Rosa signed the 2016 memorandum outlining “Project Double Barrel,” the strategy popularly known as “Oplan Tokhang.”
While Ombudsman Remulla asserted in December that he viewed the warrant through an ICC liaison, neither Malacañang, the DILG, nor the Department of Justice has confirmed its existence.
Dela Rosa previously petitioned the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order to prevent his arrest or surrender to a foreign court and sought to compel the Ombudsman to produce the warrant. The high court denied the petition.
Despite his physical absence from the chamber, Senate President Tito Sotto said the Senate cannot compel Dela Rosa to report in person because his office continues to function.
The senator has argued that the ICC lacks jurisdiction over the Philippines following the country’s 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The ICC maintains it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member.
The developments come as Duterte remains in custody following his 11 March arrest. ICC records suggest the former president had nine co-perpetrators in his “crimes against humanity” case, though most names remain redacted in official documents.