An activist displays a sign with a slogan calling for the arrest of Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s, during a protest outside the Philippine Senate. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The Philippine Justice Minister said on Friday (May 15, 2026) the country will definitely submit to a request from the International Criminal Court to arrest a top senator wanted for alleged crimes against humanity over his role in a bloody “war on drugs”. The warrant for the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the former police chief who oversaw ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody anti-narcotics crackdown, is valid and the Philippines has received a request to serve it, Justice Secretary Mr. Fredderick “Eric” Aure Vida said. The ICC unsealed a warrant on Monday (May 11, 2026) for Sen. dela Rosa’s arrest, dated November. Sen. dela Rosa, had been taking refuge at the Senate but slipped out before dawn on Thursday (May 14, 2026) in what his wife called an “escape”.
His whereabouts are unknown.
“We will definitely submit to the request of the ICC,” Mr. Vida told reporters on Friday (May 15, 2026).
“We will treat any attempt by Sen. dela Rosa to leave the country as a mockery of justice,” he said, adding that he has already given orders to arrest him if he tied to flee.
Sen. dela Rosa has filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court, arguing the International Criminal Court (ICC) has no jurisdiction after the Philippines’ 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. He denies involvement in illegal killings. Mr. Duterte is currently in ICC detention following his arrest and transfer last year and is set to become first former Asian head of state to go on trial in The Hague. He is accused of crimes against humanity and has denied wrongdoing.
Published – May 15, 2026 03:55 pm IST
