DILG's Remulla on ICC arrest warrant vs. Bato dela Rosa: 'No info yet, hearsay'

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said Saturday that he has no information yet on whether the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

“None yet to my information. As far as I am concerned, until I see the official copy, it is hearsay,” Remulla said.

Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez, likewise, said there was “no info yet" on the matter.

“I can neither confirm nor deny," added Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro.

Still, Remulla said that the DILG is currently “preparing a 10k task force for the dragnet operations in case a warrant of arrest for Senator Bato is issued."

The DILG chief said that “the unverified info just arrived this morning.”

“It takes time to mobilize,” Remulla said.

He also disclosed Dela Rosa’s current location.

“He’s in the Davao Region,” he said.

In November last year, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa. The Department of Justice (DOJ) however said it was verifying the information.

Last January, the DOJ declined to comment on the veracity of reports that it is preparing to implement an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa over cases filed before the ICC.

Since November 11, 2025, Dela Rosa has not attended any Senate sessions.

In February this year, the ICC named Dela Rosa as among the alleged co-perpetrators of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

According to the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) submitted by the Prosecution, Duterte had co-perpetrators in the "common plan" to "neutralize alleged criminals" through "violent crimes including murder."

Dela Rosa was chief of the Davao City Police from January 2012 to October 2013, and chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from July 2016 to April 2018 during the terms of Duterte as Davao City mayor and president, respectively.

It was during Dela Rosa's term as PNP chief when Duterte launched his controversial campaign against illegal drugs through “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.”

While government records showed that over 6,000 drug suspects were killed in police operations, human rights organizations estimate the death toll to be at 30,000 due to unreported incidents.

The ICC confirmed last month the charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte in connection with the killings in his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was president.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa's political party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), expressed "great alarm" over reports that an ICC warrant has been issued against him.

"If this be true, then it is condemnable as another instance of severe derogation of our sovereignty and independence as a nation," said lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who serves as PDP deputy national spokesman.

Calling out the Marcos administration's "continued kowtowing" and "slavish subservience" to the ICC, Topacio said the Philippines must assert its right of self-determination and dignity as a free country.

He cautioned the President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. against repeating mistakes committed on Duterte, who is set to face trial before the ICC on crimes against humanity following his arrest on March 11, 2025.

"[I]t should not meekly give away its citizens to a foreign jurisdiction by disregarding the safeguards and limitations set down by the Constitution and applicable laws and in obeisance to domestic judicial processes, lest our country continue to be the laughingstock of the community of nations. Mr. Marcos must remember that one mistake cannot be corrected by another one," Topacio said.

Topacio assured that the PDP is committed to protect the rights of Dela Rosa and every Filipino against the alleged abuses of the administration, adding that it is ready to "utilize every means at its disposal."

"We call on every patriotic and self-respecting citizen to resist this latest blatant attempt to trample on our rights, by all legal means available," he added. — KG/VBL/VDV, GMA News