For the past month, the whereabouts of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa have been a subject of national intrigue in the Philippines. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) revealed this week that it has been closely monitoring the senator, who has been absent from public view since reports surfaced of a possible International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant linked to his role in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
In a series of interviews and public statements, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that authorities have tracked dela Rosa in at least six different locations over the last three weeks. Speaking to GMA’s "Balitanghali," Remulla explained, "We know where he is. I think we’ve monitored him in six different places in the last three weeks." He added, "He’s just moving around his friends’ houses. He’s hiding. He’s just in their houses… When he’s moved around, they use various cars. He’s just moving around."
Despite the senator’s evasive movements, Remulla was quick to clarify the government’s position: "To this date, he is not considered a fugitive. He is not a wanted man. So, we have to play it fair. We have to play it cool. Using extrajudicial means of prosecuting the law is no longer in style." According to Remulla, neither the DILG, the Department of Justice, nor the Department of Foreign Affairs has received a formal ICC warrant against dela Rosa as of December 11, 2025, as reported by Cebu Daily News.
Dela Rosa’s absence from the public eye began exactly one month ago, following a statement from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla—no relation to the DILG Secretary—who mentioned the existence of an ICC warrant in connection with the killing of thousands of Filipinos during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign. Dela Rosa, who served as the chief of the Philippine National Police during the height of the drug war, is reportedly among those identified as suspects in the ICC’s probe into alleged crimes against humanity. The investigation has placed a spotlight on the accountability of high-ranking officials involved in the campaign, which has drawn condemnation from international human rights organizations.
The senator’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, has maintained that dela Rosa is still in the Philippines and is awaiting the proper procedure regarding any possible ICC arrest warrant. Torreon previously told GMA Integrated News that his client is avoiding public appearances due to "personal safety concerns" amid the swirling rumors of an impending warrant. "His personal safety is at stake," Torreon said, adding that there is a lack of clarity in Philippine law on how to handle surrender in such international cases. "Because it is not clear what policy is or we do not have a law as to how to deal with surrender. Because our government is very clear that they will up the modality of surrender instead of extradition under Section 17 of Republic Act 9851."
Torreon also revealed that his last conversation with dela Rosa occurred before November 8, and that their discussion focused on protests rather than the ICC. The lawyer emphasized that, to the best of his knowledge, the senator remains in the country. This assertion has been echoed by government officials, who have not indicated any evidence to the contrary.
Remulla, for his part, declined to provide specific details about the locations where dela Rosa has been monitored, citing confidentiality and security concerns. "We are monitoring him. We know where he is. And we will just wait to see if the court really has an order or not," he stated, as quoted by GMA Integrated News. The DILG chief further noted that the senator has been moving between friends’ houses, relying on their protection and using different vehicles to avoid detection. This pattern of movement, while secretive, has not yet crossed the threshold into criminal evasion, according to the government’s current stance.
Should a formal ICC warrant be issued, the legal process is expected to follow the Philippines’ established jurisprudence on extradition. Remulla explained, "According to the Supreme Court ruling on extradition, Senator Bato will be allowed to seek redress from the court. Even the RTC, he can seek redress to deal with the matter." He added, "Whatever the court decides, that is what the government will implement." This means that dela Rosa would have the opportunity to challenge any extradition or arrest order in Philippine courts, including regional trial courts, before any further action is taken. The government’s approach, as outlined by Remulla, is to adhere strictly to due process and avoid any perception of political persecution or extrajudicial action.
The ICC’s investigation into the Philippine drug war has been a contentious issue within the country’s political landscape. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, a vocal critic of the Duterte administration and one of the personalities who filed a case with the ICC, has publicly noted that dela Rosa and four other high-ranking ex-police officials have been tagged as suspects in the probe into alleged crimes against humanity. The ICC’s interest in the case stems from widespread reports of extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses during the campaign, which began in 2016 and continued throughout Duterte’s presidency.
Public reaction to the news of dela Rosa’s monitored movements and the potential ICC warrant has been mixed. Some see the government’s transparency in handling the situation as a positive step toward accountability and rule of law, while others remain skeptical about whether justice will ultimately be served. The issue has also reignited debates over the Philippines’ relationship with the ICC, which the country officially withdrew from in 2019, although the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member.
For now, the government insists that dela Rosa is not a fugitive and that all actions will be guided by legal procedure. As Remulla put it, "We have to play it fair. We have to play it cool." With the senator’s whereabouts known to authorities and his legal team preparing for any possible developments, the next steps will likely hinge on whether the ICC formally transmits a warrant to the Philippine government and how the country’s courts choose to respond.
The coming weeks could prove pivotal, not just for dela Rosa, but for the broader question of accountability for the thousands of lives lost during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. As the legal and political drama unfolds, the eyes of both the nation and the international community remain fixed on Manila, waiting to see what justice will look like in this high-stakes case.
