Philippines Orders Arrest of ICC-Wanted Senator

The Philippine government has ordered law enforcement agencies to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after the country’s Supreme Court rejected his attempt to block an arrest warrant linked to an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said authorities are actively searching for the senator and warned that anyone helping him evade arrest would face legal consequences.

“Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice. We are pursuing this so that the ends of justice may be achieved,” Vida told reporters during a news conference on Thursday.

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, played a central role in the controversial anti-drug campaign launched during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration between 2016 and 2022.

The crackdown led to thousands of deaths during police operations and vigilante-style killings, drawing widespread criticism from international human rights groups and global institutions.

Investigators linked to the ICC estimate that between 12,000 and 30,000 people may have been killed during the anti-drug campaign.

Dela Rosa has denied involvement in illegal killings and insists he did not encourage unlawful violence during the operations.

The senator had reportedly gone into hiding for several months before briefly reappearing last week inside the Philippine Senate complex, where he sought refuge amid fears of imminent arrest.

He later disappeared again following a tense overnight security incident involving reports of gunfire and confusion near the Senate premises.

Authorities have not disclosed his current whereabouts, though officials believe he remains inside the Philippines.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is also facing accusations of crimes against humanity connected to the anti-drug campaign and has been in ICC custody in The Hague since March 2025. Duterte continues to deny all allegations against him.

Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez said police would comply with legal directives while ensuring that all actions remain within constitutional and legal boundaries.

The case has intensified political tensions in the Philippines and renewed debate over accountability for the deadly anti-drug operations carried out during Duterte’s presidency.