Philippines Prevents Senator Bato Dela Rosa from Fleeing Over ICC Arrest Warrant
The Philippine government on Friday vowed to prevent Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, a key figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, from fleeing the country to avoid an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Senator Dela Rosa, who is now a fugitive, narrowly avoided arrest on Monday when he sought refuge in the Senate building. However, he reportedly left the premises without notice on Thursday, heading to an unknown location.
Philippine Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that Manila had received the arrest warrant for Dela Rosa from the ICC. The government is currently awaiting a ruling from the Philippine Supreme Court on the senator’s petition challenging the legality of the warrant.
“The Department of Justice will consider any attempt by Senator Bato Dela Rosa to leave the country as contempt of court,” Vida said in a press conference.
Law enforcement and border control officials have been instructed to be vigilant. “If Senator Bato Dela Rosa attempts to leave the country, appropriate arrest measures will be taken immediately.”
The ICC unsealed the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, 64, on Monday. He is accused, along with Duterte and other accomplices, of committing crimes against humanity in connection with the killings in the anti-drug campaign.
Earlier, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano had intervened to prevent government agents from arresting his political ally on Monday, providing him with protection inside the Senate building.
Dela Rosa served as Chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018, during the early stages of Duterte’s brutal anti-drug campaign. After retiring, he was elected to the Senate for two consecutive terms, starting in 2019. Human rights groups have documented that the crackdown resulted in thousands of deaths, mostly of drug users and petty drug dealers.
Dela Rosa has asked the Supreme Court to stop the government from enforcing the ICC warrant. He has stated that he prefers to be tried in a Philippine court if he has to face charges.
The case follows the arrest of his former boss, Rodrigo Duterte, in March last year. Duterte was immediately flown to the Netherlands on the same day and is currently being held in The Hague awaiting trial on similar charges. (AFP/I-2)