A subpoena has been issued to Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in connection with alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs), according to the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño confirmed to GMA News Online a copy of the said subpoena.

Based on the document dated May 10, Dela Rosa was directed to appear before the CIDG at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday at 10 a.m.

This comes after reports claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, which has been denied by concerned officials.

During a press conference on Sunday, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic first announced the release of the subpoena against Dela Rosa.

“He has not been personally investigated. This was triggered by the rumors of the impending red notice, and we have taken now the path ourselves to continue the investigation on all these matters,” he said.

“It's all related to the 100-plus complaints of EJK that occurred during his term as City Director and Regional Director of Davao,” he added.

He also clarified that the CIDG’s investigation is not connected to the reported arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Dela Rosa.

“We are not a member of the ICC. We are not working with the ICC. This is a purely internal matter that we are doing,” he said.

CIDG served copy at Senate

Meanwhile, PNP-CIDG personnel served a copy of the subpoena to the senator's office in the Senate.

Police Captain Larry Ray said Dela Rosa's staff accepted the document but did not sign it as per instruction. He refrained from disclosing details of the subpoena.

"They accepted it but they didn't sign because that's the instruction they were given...On our part, it's deemed received. It's up to them," Ray told reporters.

Ray said Dela Rosa may be cited in contempt should he fail to appear before the investigation.

The senator's staff confirmed receiving the copy of the subpoena.

"Galing na po ang CIDG dito earlier sa office namin and they did leave a copy of the subpoena. We didn’t officially receive it po because we are not authorized and there were no instructions from Sen Bato," the staff said.

(The CIDG went to our office earlier and they did leave a copy of the subpoena. We didn’t officially receive it po because we are not authorized and there were no instructions from Sen Bato.)

Aside from the Senate, the PNP-CIDG also served a copy of the subpoena at Dela Rosa's residence in Davao.

In a press briefing, Tuaño said the subpoena was served by CIDG Region 11 personnel at Dela Rosa’s residence through substituted service after the senator was not physically present.

“Dahil hindi po siya physically present sa kanyang residence, ang nangyari po substituted service po ang tawag natin diyan. Yung subpoena po ay ni-receive ng kanyang caretaker,” he added.

(Because he was not physically present at his residence, what happened was what we call substituted service. The subpoena was received by his caretaker.) 

(With reports from Joviland Rita, GMA News)