PNP to enforce ICC arrest warrant vs. Bato dela Rosa only through Interpol, local court order

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it is ready to implement the arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa but only through Interpol and a local court order.

“Malinaw naman po 'yung instruction ni SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) sa atin pong Chief PNP na i-implement lamang po 'yung contingency plan kung saka-sakali na may confirmed na ICC warrant,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño told GMA News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(SILG’s instruction to our Chief PNP is clear to only implement the contingency plan in case there is a confirmed ICC warrant.)

“Ito ay papadaanin sa Interpol at through [the National Central Bureau in Manila] o kaya [the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime] at may court order. Handa naman po ang PNP para i-implement po ito,” he added.

(This should be passed through Interpol and through the National Central Bureau in Manila or the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime and if there is a court order. The PNP is ready to implement it.)

According to him, this was clarified by the PNP leadership during the emergency command conference on Sunday.

Tuaño made the clarification after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said that a 10,000-strong task force was on standby in case an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa is out.

The ICC on Monday confirmed that the tribunal issued a warrant of arrest for Dela Rosa, who was PNP chief during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, in connection with the killings under the administration's war on drugs.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said a copy of the ICC arrest warrant has been transmitted to the PCTC.

Dela Rosa has been absent in the Senate since November 11, 2025, after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla alleged that the ICC issued a warrant of arrest against him over the previous administration’s drug war.

He showed up on Monday to attend the Senate session, in which he was among the 13 who voted to unseat Senator Vicente Sotto III as Senate president and put Alan Peter Cayetano in his place.

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reportedly tried to serve the arrest warrant against the dela Rosa in the Senate premises, and even chased him as the lawmaker headed for the Session Hall.

Following Dela Rosa’s return to the Senate on Monday, Trillanes showed media a copy of the ICC’s arrest warrant against the senator.

The Senate on Monday granted a motion placing dela Rosa under the protective custody of the chamber.

Cayetano thereafter said dela Rosa will not be arrested Monday night.

The development came after Cayetano met with NBI Director Melvin Matibag to discuss the Senate’s contempt order against several NBI agents who entered the Senate premises to serve the ICC arrest warrant from the ICC to dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa has filed a new manifestation before the Supreme Court (SC) for immediate judicial protection, his camp said Monday.

In a statement, the Law Firm of Torreon and Partners said they filed an urgent manifestation with omnibus motion for guidance on the legal effect of the arrest warrant from the ICC.

They also reiterated their appeal for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction prohibiting the arrest or transfer of Dela Rosa to any foreign tribunal without prior judicial authorization. —KG, GMA News