Philippine drug war official sought by ICC remains at large

Former Philippine senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who played a key role in ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, took shelter inside the Senate building after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him. Investigators attempted to detain him on Monday, but he managed to avoid arrest and later entered Senate custody. Authorities eventually announced they would not arrest him while he remained under Senate protection. Supporters gathered outside the building as political tensions escalated across the country.

The ICC accused Dela Rosa of involvement in at least 32 killings linked to the deadly anti-drug crackdown carried out between 2016 and 2018. Prosecutors described him as an “indirect co-perpetrator” in operations that led to thousands of suspected drug dealers being killed. The campaign, launched under Duterte’s presidency, drew heavy criticism from international human rights groups and foreign governments. Duterte himself has remained in ICC custody in The Hague since his arrest earlier this year.

Security footage shown to lawmakers captured investigators chasing Dela Rosa through staircases and hallways inside the Senate complex shortly after his arrival. The dramatic pursuit ended in a tense standoff between Senate officials and law enforcement officers. After several hours, authorities backed away from arresting him while he stayed inside the Senate premises. Dela Rosa later declared that he intended to remain there and resist any attempt to send him to The Hague.

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Philippine senator avoids detention by ICC

Dela Rosa’s legal team has appealed to the Philippine Supreme Court to stop the arrest, arguing that authorities lacked a valid local court warrant. On Tuesday, the senator urged his supporters to continue gathering outside the Senate until the court delivered a decision. He also challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to pursue charges against him through Philippine courts instead of cooperating with the ICC. Dela Rosa insisted he would answer accusations locally but rejected the authority of an international tribunal.

The controversy unfolded during a major political struggle between the Marcos and Duterte families. Senate members, many of whom support Duterte allies, elected Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate president. Cayetano later stated that the Senate would only recognise arrest orders issued by Philippine courts. At the same time, lawmakers in the House of Representatives, controlled by Marcos allies, voted to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte for the second time. The growing feud has intensified ahead of the next presidential election, where Sara Duterte remains a leading contender.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has continued to reject the ICC’s authority, arguing that the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019. However, ICC judges ruled that the court still has jurisdiction because the alleged crimes took place while the country remained a member of the treaty. That decision cleared the way for Duterte to face trial in The Hague. The legal battle has now deepened political divisions in the Philippines and placed renewed focus on the deadly anti-drug campaign carried out during Duterte’s presidency.

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