Confusion gripped the Philippines over the weekend as conflicting reports emerged about an alleged arrest warrant for Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former police chief who played a central role in ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. The commotion began on November 9, 2025, when the nation’s ombudsman, Jesus Crispin Remulla, claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a warrant for Dela Rosa’s arrest—a claim that was swiftly and categorically denied by the ICC itself. The episode has thrown a spotlight on the country’s struggle to reckon with the aftermath of Duterte’s bloody anti-drug campaign, which left thousands dead and continues to reverberate through the nation’s political and legal systems.
According to Reuters, Ombudsman Remulla said in a text message that he had received information about the supposed arrest warrant from the officer-in-charge of the Department of Justice (DOJ). The news, if true, would have marked a dramatic escalation in international efforts to hold top Philippine officials accountable for alleged crimes against humanity. Yet, almost as quickly as the rumor spread, it was quashed by the ICC’s spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah. In a firm statement, El Abdallah told Reuters: “No. ICC news can only be found on ICC official communications channels and press releases.”
The Department of Justice in Manila, caught in the crossfire of conflicting information, urged caution. DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez told Reuters that the ministry was still working to verify the existence of any such warrant. “We have not yet received a copy of said arrest warrant. We shall provide further details as soon as it becomes available,” Martinez said in a text message. As of November 9, there was no official confirmation from the DOJ or any other government agency.
Senator Dela Rosa, who led the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s presidency and has long defended the anti-drug campaign, remained silent in the face of the swirling reports. His office did not respond to requests for comment, and he has not made any public statements since the rumors broke. Dela Rosa’s name, however, has repeatedly come up in connection with the ICC’s ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings during Duterte’s term. In April 2025, Dela Rosa himself confirmed that he had received communication from the ICC. He was quoted in a Senate photo release saying he was contacted “regarding the extra-judicial killings of suspected drug dependents and other personalities, which constitute crimes against humanity.”
The confusion over Dela Rosa’s legal status comes just months after the dramatic arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte. In March 2025, Duterte was taken into custody and transferred to The Hague on a warrant linking him to the deaths of thousands of alleged drug peddlers and users. The charges against Duterte stem from his administration’s relentless anti-narcotics campaign, which, according to human rights advocates and international observers, often bypassed due process and resulted in widespread human rights abuses.
Both Duterte and Dela Rosa have vigorously denied any wrongdoing. They have consistently argued that the war on drugs was a necessary response to a national crisis and that any deaths were the result of legitimate police operations. Nonetheless, the ICC has pressed ahead with its investigation, citing credible evidence of systematic extrajudicial killings that could amount to crimes against humanity. Duterte and his legal team maintain that his arrest was unlawful and have appealed the ICC’s decision to continue the case, seeking his release from detention.
The legal battle has spilled over into the Philippine judiciary. Both Duterte and Dela Rosa have filed petitions before the Supreme Court, seeking to compel the government to halt any cooperation with the ICC. Their argument hinges on questions of national sovereignty and the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been caught in the middle, with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin telling reporters that the president’s office had yet to independently verify the existence of any warrant for Dela Rosa.
Adding to the uncertainty, a document outlining the charges prosecutors hope to bring against Duterte also references Dela Rosa, including statements he made as police chief during the height of the drug war. But as of now, there is no public evidence that the ICC has formally moved against Dela Rosa, beyond the communications he acknowledged receiving earlier this year.
The case has raised thorny questions about extradition procedures and the limits of international justice. Ombudsman Remulla indicated that if a warrant for Dela Rosa were confirmed, any extradition process would be governed by rules recently approved by the Philippine Supreme Court. These rules are designed to ensure due process and protect the rights of those facing extradition, but they also underscore the complex interplay between domestic law and international obligations.
For many Filipinos, the spectacle of a former president and his top law enforcement official facing possible prosecution abroad is both unprecedented and deeply unsettling. Supporters of Duterte and Dela Rosa argue that the ICC is overstepping its authority and interfering in the country’s internal affairs. They see the drug war as a tough but necessary measure to combat rampant crime and drug abuse. Critics, on the other hand, insist that justice must be served for the thousands of victims and that impunity for high-ranking officials cannot be tolerated.
The debate has exposed deep divisions within Philippine society and the political establishment. President Marcos Jr. has so far taken a cautious approach, balancing calls for accountability with concerns about national sovereignty and the potential fallout from a high-profile international prosecution. His administration’s reluctance to confirm the existence of an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa reflects the broader uncertainty over how to navigate the country’s relationship with the ICC.
Meanwhile, the families of those killed in the drug war continue to seek answers and justice. For them, the legal wrangling and diplomatic confusion are a painful reminder of the long road ahead. The ICC’s investigation, whether it ultimately leads to more arrests or not, has already forced a reckoning with the darkest chapter of recent Philippine history.
As of now, the fate of Senator Dela Rosa remains unresolved, caught between rumor and denial, legal maneuvering and international scrutiny. What is clear is that the question of accountability for the drug war’s many victims is far from settled—and the world is still watching.
