Ombudsman: ICC issues arrest order for Philippine ex-President Duterte’s ally for drug war

Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who handled then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, the country’s ombudsman claimed on Saturday. The ICC refuted the claim.

In March, Duterte, who served from 2016 to 2022, was arrested and brought to The Hague on a warrant that connected him to killings that occurred during his war on drugs, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of suspected drug users and dealers.

In a text message to Reuters, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the Department of Justice officer-in-charge had informed him about Dela Rosa’s warrant.

Polo Martinez, a DOJ representative, responded that the ministry was currently checking the information when asked for comment.

“A copy of the aforementioned arrest warrant has not yet been delivered to us. “As soon as more information is available, we will provide it,” Martinez texted.

When asked if an arrest warrant was in place, ICC spokeswoman Fadi El Abdallah responded, “No.” Press releases and official ICC communications channels are the only places to find ICC news.

A request for comment was not immediately answered by the office of Dela Rosa, a Duterte police commander. He has petitioned the Philippine Supreme Court to force the government to cease its cooperation with the ICC, along with Duterte, who is now being held at The Hague.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin informed reporters that the office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not yet independently confirmed the details about Dela Rosa’s warrant.

Dela Rosa was referenced, along with remarks he made while serving as police chief, in a document outlining the allegations prosecutors wish to file against Duterte.

“I received a notification from the ICC “about the extra-judicial killings of suspected drug addicts and other persons, which constitute crimes against humanity,” Dela Rosa said in a Senate picture release in April.

According to Duterte and his attorneys, his arrest was illegal. Duterte requested his release last month after contesting the ICC’s decision to press its case against him.

According to Ombudsman Remulla, the Supreme Court-approved extradition guidelines will be used in the Dela Rosa case.