The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified that there is still no confirmed arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, amid renewed claims circulating online and in political circles.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said government agencies have not received any official communication from the ICC regarding an arrest warrant or request for cooperation involving the senator. According to Remulla, agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime have all verified that no formal documents have been transmitted to them.
“Alleged pa rin hanggang ngayon,” Remulla said, stressing that reports about an ICC warrant remain unverified in the absence of official confirmation through established diplomatic and legal channels.
The issue resurfaced following earlier public statements suggesting that the ICC had already issued a warrant against Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the PNP during the Duterte administration’s controversial anti-illegal drugs campaign. However, the ICC itself has not publicly confirmed the existence of such a warrant, maintaining its policy of disclosing developments only through official announcements.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has declined to issue detailed comments on the matter, citing pending legal questions before the Supreme Court regarding the Philippine government’s obligations, if any, in responding to ICC actions. Justice officials said they are observing judicial courtesy while legal issues related to international jurisdiction remain unresolved.
Legal analysts note that the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC continues to complicate questions of enforcement, particularly on whether local authorities are required—or even authorized—to act on alleged ICC warrants without clear legal mechanisms in place.
For now, authorities maintain that no enforcement action can be taken in the absence of a verified warrant. The government reiterated that any official ICC communication would have to pass through proper diplomatic channels before being acted upon.
The situation remains under close watch as debates on accountability, sovereignty, and international justice continue to shape public and political discourse.
