The Philippine Supreme Court has refused to block the possible arrest of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the country’s deadly “war on drugs”.
Dela Rosa, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte and former national police chief, is accused of playing a key role in the anti-drug crackdown carried out between 2016 and 2022. The campaign resulted in thousands of deaths during police operations and vigilante-style killings.
Government officials confirmed that authorities are preparing to carry out the ICC-issued arrest warrant after the court denied the senator’s request for a temporary restraining order.
The senator had argued that Philippine law enforcement agencies had no authority to enforce a warrant issued by a foreign court without approval from a local court. However, the Supreme Court’s interim decision allows authorities to proceed while other legal questions raised in his petition remain under review.
Dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown after he reportedly went into hiding for several months. He briefly took refuge inside the Senate building before leaving following a tense security incident involving government agents and Senate personnel.
His legal team said they would continue to challenge the ICC process and seek reconsideration of the ruling, insisting that the decision was not yet final.
Justice officials reiterated that the government intends to comply with the ICC warrant. Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied involvement in unlawful killings and maintains his innocence.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte is also facing crimes against humanity allegations connected to the anti-drug campaign and has been in ICC custody in The Hague since March 2025.
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