Philippines vows to arrest 'Bato' dela Rosa

The Philippine government said on May 21 that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa would be arrested and surrendered on an International Criminal Court warrant after the Supreme Court declined to stop local authorities from acting on it. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the warrant was enforceable in the Philippines and that law enforcers had been ordered to carry it out. National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said the senator would be arrested “without delay.” The move places a sitting Philippine senator at the center of the ICC’s long-running investigation into killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. ### Why are Philippine authorities moving now? The Supreme Court on May 20 rejected dela Rosa’s request for a temporary restraining order and status quo ante order that would have blocked enforcement of the ICC warrant. Philippine media reports said the vote was 9-5-1. With no court order stopping them, the Department of Justice said the NBI and the Philippine National Police could proceed. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said on May 21 that dela Rosa was a fugitive from justice and should be brought before the ICC. Reuters reported that Vida said the warrant, originally dated in November and unsealed earlier in May, remained enforceable despite dela Rosa’s challenge based on the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. (sunstar.com.ph) ### What is the ICC accusing dela Rosa of? The International Criminal Court said on May 11 that judges had unsealed an arrest warrant for Ronald Marapon dela Rosa that had originally been issued under seal on Nov. 6, 2025. The court said he is alleged to have committed the crime against humanity of murder between July 3, 2016 and the end of April 2018, during which at least 32 people were killed in the Philippines. (thestar.com.my) The ICC said dela Rosa was police chief during the early phase of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and is accused in connection with killings linked to that period. The case is part of the court’s broader Philippines investigation, which has already produced proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte. Amnesty International said Duterte was arrested in March 2025 and transferred to The Hague to face crimes against humanity charges. (icc-cpi.int) ### Why does the Philippines say an ICC warrant can still be enforced? The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but the court has maintained that it keeps jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member. That legal dispute has been central to dela Rosa’s effort to block arrest. Reuters reported that Vida rejected the senator’s argument and said domestic authorities could act on the warrant. (icc-cpi.int) Philippine officials have also pointed to local law as a basis for cooperation with international tribunals. Amnesty International said Republic Act No. 9851 requires the Philippine government to surrender people accused of international crimes to competent international courts or tribunals. ### Where is dela Rosa and what has he said? (thestar.com.my) Ronald dela Rosa had taken refuge in the Senate after the warrant became public, and The Diplomat reported on May 12 that he had locked himself inside his office to avoid arrest. By May 21, Reuters and Philippine outlets described him as a fugitive, with authorities preparing to locate and detain him. (amnesty.org) Melvin Matibag said the absence of a restraining order meant authorities were already effecting the arrest. Inquirer and SunStar both reported his statement that dela Rosa would be apprehended “without delay.” ### What happens next in practical terms? The next step is execution of the warrant by the NBI and the Philippine National Police under Justice Department instructions. (thediplomat.com) Reuters reported that Philippine law enforcers had been tasked to arrest the senator, while local reports said the operation could proceed immediately because the Supreme Court had not intervened. (newsinfo.inquirer.net) The ICC said the warrant was made public on May 11, and any surrender would send dela Rosa to The Hague to face proceedings before the court. For now, the named participants in the next step are the NBI, the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice officials who ordered the warrant served. (icc-cpi.int) (thestar.com.my)