THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that it issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a close ally and former national police chief under ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, in connection with alleged crimes against humanity tied to the country’s deadly anti-drug campaign.
The ICC said the warrant was issued confidentially on November 6, 2025 by its Pre-Trial Chamber I and is now being processed for unsealing and public circulation. The confirmation was made on Monday, according to court communication cited by international reports.
Dela Rosa is widely known as the architect and top enforcer of Duterte’s “war on drugs,” a campaign carried out during the former president’s term from 2016 to 2022 that drew global condemnation over thousands of killings, many involving police operations and suspected vigilante actions.
The ICC has been investigating the Philippines for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the drug war after determining there were reasonable grounds to believe systematic killings took place under state policy. The case has already implicated Duterte himself, who is currently in ICC custody in The Hague following a separate arrest warrant issued in 2025.
Under ICC procedure, arrest warrants are typically sealed at first to prevent suspects from evading arrest, and are later made public once enforcement measures are in place or court processes advance.
Recent developments in Manila suggest heightened tension over possible enforcement of international warrants. Philippine authorities have previously stated they would assess any formal ICC requests in line with domestic legal processes and Supreme Court rulings, while critics argue the government is obligated to cooperate under international obligations tied to past treaties.
Dela Rosa, who currently serves in the Philippine Senate, has faced mounting legal and political pressure in recent months amid renewed scrutiny of senior officials linked to the drug war. Human rights groups have long pushed for accountability, arguing that the campaign resulted in widespread extrajudicial killings and lacked due process.
Supporters of the former police chief maintain that the operations targeted criminal networks and were conducted under lawful orders during a national security crisis. Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in past statements.
The ICC case marks a significant escalation in international legal action against figures involved in the Duterte administration’s anti-narcotics campaign, which remains one of the most controversial chapters in recent Philippine history.
Further court filings and possible unsealing of the warrant are expected in the coming weeks, which may clarify charges and next procedural steps, including potential coordination with member states for enforcement.
With additional reporting from Reuters.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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