The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that it issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald dela Rosa in connection with the killings linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
In a 16-page document released by the tribunal, the ICC said the warrant was initially “classified as secret” and issued under seal by Pre-Trial Chamber I on Nov. 6, 2025.
ICC spokesperson Orianne Maillet confirmed the authenticity of the document after copies surfaced in Philippine media.
“The International Criminal Court confirms that the document published by the national authorities of the Republic of the Philippines and circulated in the media is indeed a formal ICC document,” Maillet said.
She added that the tribunal is in the process of unsealing the arrest warrant.
Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier said a copy of the warrant had been transmitted to the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC).
The warrant accuses dela Rosa of “alleged criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity of murder committed between July 3, 2016 and the end of April 2018, during which at least 32 people were killed.
At the time, dela Rosa was serving as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the height of the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
According to the ICC chamber, there were reasonable grounds to believe that members of Philippine law enforcement, along with non-police assets and hired hitmen, carried out killings of alleged criminals and individuals suspected of involvement in illegal drugs activities in various parts of the country.
The prosecution argued that dela Rosa’s arrest was necessary to ensure his appearance before the court.
The chamber also cited concerns that he may not cooperate with a summons, noting reports that dela Rosa had publicly threatened an ICC investigator and referred to individuals cooperating with the tribunal as “traitors.”
“Given the risk of interference with the investigations and the security of witnesses and victims, the Chamber is satisfied that the arrest of Mr. Dela Rosa is necessary,” the document read.
The ICC also said dela Rosa was allegedly involved in a “common plan” from November 2011 to March 2019 to kill alleged criminals, including persons suspected of drug-related activities.
The tribunal cited his more than 30 years of service in law enforcement, including his stints as Davao City police chief, PNP chief, and Bureau of Corrections chief.
Dela Rosa had been absent from Senate sessions since November 2025 after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed that the ICC had issued a warrant against him.
He resurfaced at the Senate on Monday and joined the 13 senators who voted to remove Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were later reported to have attempted to serve the warrant against the senator inside the Senate complex.
