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Advocates Philippines
Bato ICC Warrant Still 'Not Actionable' - DILG
Photo courtesy from PTV
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified Monday that Philippine authorities still cannot enforce the alleged International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa unless it is formally transmitted through Interpol channels.
The clarification came after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV appeared at the Senate and presented what he claimed was a copy of the ICC warrant tied to Dela Rosa’s alleged role in the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.
Remulla explained that the document circulating publicly remains insufficient for local law enforcement agencies to act on, saying the paper shown by Trillanes was merely correspondence from the ICC to the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) and not a legally served warrant.
He added that the government is still waiting for formal notice through Interpol before authorities can take any action, stressing that Dela Rosa is being afforded due process.
The Interior chief also pointed out that no official warrant has yet been legally served to Philippine authorities. He questioned whether Trillanes had the authority to possess or present the document, noting that the former senator is not connected with the PCTC.
Earlier, the PCTC, which serves as the country’s link to Interpol, said it had not yet received any official arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.
The issue gained more attention after Dela Rosa resurfaced at the Senate following months of low public visibility amid speculation that the ICC was preparing charges against him. Reuters also reported that Senate officials later placed the senator under protective custody as reports about the warrant spread.
On Monday, the ICC confirmed that an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa had indeed been issued confidentially on November 6, 2025 in connection with crimes against humanity allegations linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
According to the ICC, the warrant remains under seal and is currently undergoing the process for public release.
Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, has repeatedly denied involvement in unlawful killings. He has also previously stated that he is prepared to face the ICC if necessary.
The Philippines officially withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, but the ICC has maintained that it still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member of the treaty.
The clarification came after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV appeared at the Senate and presented what he claimed was a copy of the ICC warrant tied to Dela Rosa’s alleged role in the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.
Remulla explained that the document circulating publicly remains insufficient for local law enforcement agencies to act on, saying the paper shown by Trillanes was merely correspondence from the ICC to the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC) and not a legally served warrant.
He added that the government is still waiting for formal notice through Interpol before authorities can take any action, stressing that Dela Rosa is being afforded due process.
The Interior chief also pointed out that no official warrant has yet been legally served to Philippine authorities. He questioned whether Trillanes had the authority to possess or present the document, noting that the former senator is not connected with the PCTC.
Earlier, the PCTC, which serves as the country’s link to Interpol, said it had not yet received any official arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.
The issue gained more attention after Dela Rosa resurfaced at the Senate following months of low public visibility amid speculation that the ICC was preparing charges against him. Reuters also reported that Senate officials later placed the senator under protective custody as reports about the warrant spread.
On Monday, the ICC confirmed that an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa had indeed been issued confidentially on November 6, 2025 in connection with crimes against humanity allegations linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
According to the ICC, the warrant remains under seal and is currently undergoing the process for public release.
Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, has repeatedly denied involvement in unlawful killings. He has also previously stated that he is prepared to face the ICC if necessary.
The Philippines officially withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, but the ICC has maintained that it still has jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member of the treaty.
May 11, 2026
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