MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has supposedly issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over his role in the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Speaking in an interview with DZRH on Saturday, November 8, Remulla said he had “good authority” to reveal the information, citing public interest.

“I have it in good authority [to disclose] kasi public interest program ito, that the ICC has issued a warrant against Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, warrant of arrest,” Remulla said.

Dela Rosa, who headed the Philippine National Police (PNP) during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s term, led the implementation of the government’s controversial war on drugs.

The reported development follows the earlier detention of Duterte at the ICC detention center in The Hague on March 13. The 80-year-old former president is awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity in relation to thousands of killings linked to his anti-drug operations, both as Davao City mayor and as the country’s chief executive.

ICC prosecutors have filed three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte, accusing him of involvement in at least 76 killings tied to the campaign.

Dela Rosa, a close political ally of Duterte, had previously said he was “ready” to join the former president if the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest.