ICC issues arrest warant for Sen. Bato Dela Rosa—Remulla

Ombudsman Crispin Remulla said that a warrant of arrest has been issued against Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa by the International Criminal Court in connection with former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

"I have it in good authority kasi public interest na rin 'to... that the ICC has issued a warrant against Sen. Bato dela Rosa," Remulla said in an interview with DzRH on Saturday morning.

When asked if the news is confirmed, he said, "I think so. I would say so. I have it in good authority. May nakipag-usap sa akin kanina."

However, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said no red notice alert has been issued by the Interpol yet.

"The Center for Transnational Crimes has not received a red notice from the ICC," he said.

Dela Rosa was one of Duterte’s leading hands in implementing the bloody war on drugs, serving as the chief of the Philippine National Police for almost two years from July 2016 to April 2018.

Amid the ICC probe on Duterte’s controversial drug war, Dela Rosa said that the international tribunal is all about “control” and not for justice. He added that they do not have jurisdiction to conduct an investigation in the country following the Philippines' withdrawal of membership. 

In March, ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti shared in an interview that Dela Rosa and Albayalde may follow in Duterte's footsteps. 

"May tatlong pangalan kasing binanggit doon sa mga dokumento ng ICC. Noon pa man sinisilip nila na responsible: Duterte, Bato dela Rosa at Oscar Albayalde," she told DZBB Super Radyo on March 12. 

"Senator Bato Dela Rosa, who would be considered one of the persons most responsible. Oscar Albayalde, who has also been named in the documents as liable. Malinaw para sa amin na si Duterte ang puno't dulo nito kaya okay na 'yung may mauna kaysa mahuli siya," she told in a separate interview with ANC.

The senator previously said that if a local court issued an arrest warrant for him, he would surrender himself. However, if the order came from the ICC, he would not turn himself in.

Dela Rosa said in an interview with Dateline Philippines that he would seek protection from the Senate should the ICC issue an arrest warrant.

"Hanggang saan kaya protektahan ako ng Senado, dun lang ako. 'Pag sabihin nila 'hindi na kaya, you have to surrender yourself,' I will turn in myself peacefully," he said on March 13.