DOJ maintains no law bars gov't coordination with ICC

Amid the recent unsealing of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained on Wednesday that there is currently no law preventing the government from coordinating with the tribunal while several petitions remain pending before the Supreme Court (SC).

Citing Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said that suspected individuals may be surrendered to the appropriate international court.

“Same position. Under RA 9851, we may surrender a suspected or arrested person in the Philippines to the appropriate international court or tribunal. The other mode is extradition,” Martinez told reporters.

This comes amid the pending petitions challenging the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC.

Martinez, however, reiterated that the Justice Department considers it prudent to wait for the SC decision.

Following Duterte’s arrest in March 2025, he and Dela Rosa asked the SC to prohibit the Philippine government from cooperating with the ICC and Interpol.

Dela Rosa has filed a new manifestation with the SC for immediate judicial protection and sought guidance on the legal effect of the arrest warrant. He also reiterated their appeal for a temporary restraining order.

Petitions filed by Duterte’s children — Veronica “Kitty” Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, and Davao City Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte — also remain pending.

Kitty Duterte has filed a second motion to resolve with the High Court, noting that 14 months have passed without substantive action.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa for the crime against humanity of murder, at least between July 2016 and the end of April 2018, during which no less than 32 individuals were killed in the Philippines.

Dela Rosa is currently under protective custody of the Senate. —AOL, GMA News