The Philippines is taking action to enforce the ICC warrant for Senator Bato’s arrest
The Department of Justice (DoJ) said it has ordered Philippine law enforcement to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa and facilitate his extradition to The Hague, fueling the legal dispute over his arrest at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.
Justice Secretary Frederick A. Vida on Thursday said federal authorities, including the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, are now empowered to enforce the arrest warrant after the senator left the Senate custody.
“Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice, and he should be brought to the ICC to face charges,” he told the media.
The order follows a Supreme Court ruling that refused to issue a temporary injunction that would have blocked the implementation of the ICC warrant, effectively removing the legal barriers cited by the defense.
Mr. Vida said the government stopped taking action because of the Senate’s provision for protection, but that document ended when Mr. dela Rosa, who enforced the deadly drug war of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte as his national police chief, left the area on May 14.
He dismissed suggestions that authorities were conducting a “manhunt,” describing such words as unnecessary, while confirming that intelligence operations and inter-agency coordination were continuing.
Law enforcement agencies have been ordered to conduct intelligence gathering, operational planning and countermeasures to locate the senator’s premises. Authorities have also warned that people who help flee may face legal consequences.
The Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order remains in effect, according to the DoJ, barring Mr. dela Rosa to leave the country while efforts to obtain custody continue.
DoJ spokesman Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said the government may follow the Interpol Red Notice as part of international coordination efforts.
“That is the solution available to us,” said Mr. Martinez, adding that the evacuation order could not be issued without a pending case before a Philippine court.
The DoJ maintains that enforcement of the ICC warrant is consistent with the Philippines’ obligations under the Rome Statute despite its withdrawal from the treaty in 2019, citing ongoing legal exposure related to alleged crimes committed while the country was still a party.
The ICC accused Mr. dela Rosa for crimes against humanity for killing as a participant in the drug war of Mr.
The judges of the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that he was guilty of murder between July 2016 and April 2018, involving at least 32 deaths, according to the summary of the consent.
The team of lawyers of Mr. dela Rosa said that she will file a request for reconsideration and use all remedies to prevent the enforcement of the law, saying that the law enforcement order does not have domestic enforcement.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) said the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant legal permission confirms that there are no legal obstacles to the execution of the arrest warrant.
Said Mr. dela Rosa failed to show a clear and unmistakable right, an imminent violation or an urgent and irreparable injury that would justify the court’s intervention. It also noted that the subpoena for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group cited in earlier filings has been withdrawn.
The OSG said it is awaiting a full Supreme Court decision to clarify the remaining legal issues.
The families of the victims of the drug war, represented by the organization that represents Rise Up for Life and Rights, called on the international community to support the immediate enforcement of the ICC warrant.
They said their pursuit of accountability follows years of impunity and denial of justice at home.
“For justice to be done, due process to be respected, and the healing of our families and communities, Senator Bato dela Rosa must be arrested and handed over to the ICC immediately,” the group said in a statement. – Erika Mae P. Sinaking
