Philippine Government Awaits ICC Arrest Warrants for Co-Accused
MANILA — The Philippine government has not yet received any official communication from the International Criminal Court (ICC) or Interpol regarding the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s co-accused. This update comes amid ongoing cases involving crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.
Palace spokesperson Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed this during a Malacañang briefing on Thursday. “Right now, we have not yet received any communication if there is a warrant of arrest for the co-perpetrators of former President Duterte,” she said clearly.
Senator Dela Rosa Challenges Government on Possible Arrest
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told foreign news sources that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa could face arrest if the ICC issues a warrant and Interpol releases a notice. Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and key figure in Duterte’s drug war, responded defiantly.
“If they want to commit the same mistake again, then go ahead. They can do that if they want to make another mistake. What they did to Duterte was a huge mistake, and if they are willing to make the same mistake again, then they can do the same,” dela Rosa said, daring the current administration to proceed.
Duterte’s Arrest and ICC Proceedings
Duterte was arrested on March 11 by Philippine National Police operatives coordinated with Interpol, following an ICC-issued warrant. He was immediately flown to The Hague, Netherlands, where he is detained and set to stand trial for crimes against humanity.
The charges focus on extrajudicial killings tied to Duterte’s drug war, which began during his time as Davao City mayor and continued through his presidency from 2011 to 2019. Before Duterte’s arrest, Interpol had issued a diffusion notice after consulting with the Philippine government, which agreed to cooperate with the arrest request.
Role of Senator Dela Rosa in the Drug War
Dela Rosa served as Davao City police director from 2012 to 2013, a period during which the ICC prosecutors frequently linked him to the implementation of “Tokhang,” a controversial anti-drug campaign. He is also associated with the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), implicated in the extrajudicial killings.
As PNP chief from 2016 to 2018, Dela Rosa issued Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, which laid the foundation for Project Double Barrel. This project launched the nationwide war on drugs, later branded as Oplan Tokhang.
Despite these accusations, no formal arrest warrants for Duterte’s co-accused have been received by Philippine authorities. The government continues to monitor the situation closely while balancing diplomatic and legal considerations.
For more news and updates on ICC arrest warrants, visit Filipinokami.com.
