Philippines vows to arrest fugitive senator wanted by ICC 'without delay'
Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said police and investigators must arrest the fugitive senator, who faces ICC charges over at least 32 alleged killings.
- On Thursday, May 21, the Philippine government ordered the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation to arrest Senator Dela Rosa over his role in former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug crackdown, following an International Criminal Court warrant.
- Dela Rosa served as the primary enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, during which thousands of alleged drug dealers were killed in police operations. He recently emerged from six months of hiding, taking refuge at the Senate before fleeing on May 14.
- On Wednesday, May 20, the Philippine Supreme Court denied the senator's request for a temporary restraining order, clearing the legal path for authorities to enforce the International Criminal Court warrant.
- Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed the arrest order on Thursday, declaring "Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice and he should be brought to the ICC." Vida rejected the term "manhunt" as a "dramatic or zarsuela word."
- Dela Rosa remains at-large as questions persist over whether he will be transferred to The Hague, mirroring the 2025 arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, who currently awaits trial there for crimes against humanity.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Associated Press News
Philippine justice chief orders arrest of senator wanted by the ICC over Duterte-era killings
The Philippines justice chief has ordered the enforcement of an International Criminal Court warrant for a senator wanted on an alleged crime against humanity charge.
Hontiveros on DOJ’s order to arrest Bato dela Rosa: ‘Rule of law should prevail’
The rule of law should always prevail. Thus, said Sen. Risa Hontiveros as the Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fully enforce the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).“The rule of law should always prevail. Dapat manaig ang pagrespeto sa batas at prosesong legal (Respect for the law and the legal process must prevail),” Hontive…
Dela Rosa is held responsible for his role in the bloody war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
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