More personalities may soon face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court in connection with alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, according to Melvin Matibag.
Matibag said the National Bureau of Investigation has received information that additional arrest warrants could soon be released by the ICC.
“May information tayo na may several na ma-issuehan pa ng warrants of arrest,” Matibag said.
The NBI chief added that the agency is prepared to enforce any future warrants issued by the international tribunal.
“It doesn’t matter who he is or ano man krimen niya. Basta may warrant, meron talaga kaming protocol. So, kung may lumabas na additional warrant of arrest, we are always ready to enforce and to serve the warrant,” he said.
The ICC earlier issued an arrest warrant against Ronald dela Rosa, alleging that he was a co-conspirator in crimes against humanity tied to killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign when Duterte served as Davao City mayor and later as president.
Dela Rosa was later included in the list of defendants on the ICC website after the tribunal unsealed the warrant against him.
The NBI previously attempted to serve the warrant on Dela Rosa at the Senate, but the senator was placed under protective custody by the Senate before eventually leaving the premises.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the Philippines denied Dela Rosa’s request for a temporary restraining order and status quo ante order related to his possible arrest.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida also directed the Philippine National Police and the NBI to arrest the senator based on the ICC warrant.
However, Dela Rosa’s legal team questioned the Department of Justice’s directive, arguing that the ICC warrant should first pass through proceedings in a local Philippine court.
