MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said operational details on the transfer of custody of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa will not be made public once he is arrested.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said disclosure of the procedure could compromise the objective of bringing the senator under custody and ensuring enforcement of the arrest warrant.

“The procedure to be followed pertains to operational matters that cannot be publicly disclosed so as not to defeat the ultimate objective to bring him to the ICC (International Criminal Court) and exact justice,” Martinez said in a message to reporters.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, will be brought to the DOJ once apprehended.

Dela Rosa is facing an ICC arrest warrant over his alleged role as a co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign. Duterte is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands.

The senator’s legal team has argued that the ICC warrant must first undergo scrutiny by a Philippine court before it can be enforced locally.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed Dela Rosa’s petition seeking a temporary restraining order to block the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant.