Philippines Orders Arrest of Senator Dela Rosa, Wanted by the ICC

The Philippine government has ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the lawmaker wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Duterte-era "war on drugs."

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida issued the order on 21 May 2026, a day after the Philippine Supreme Court rejected dela Rosa's petition to block his arrest. The ruling cleared the last legal hurdle between the senator and law enforcement.

"A fugitive from justice"

Vida said the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation have been tasked to find and arrest dela Rosa. He warned that anyone helping the senator evade capture would "face consequences."

"Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice. We're pursuing this so that the ends of justice may be achieved," Vida told a news conference.

He did not say what leads authorities have on dela Rosa's whereabouts. The senator's lawyers indicated this week that he remains in the Philippines.

The police gave a more guarded response. PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez said the force noted the Justice Department's directive and would carry out its mandate under the law, but he stopped short of confirming that the PNP would make the arrest. Any police action, he said, would stay "impartial, professional, and within the bounds of the law, with full respect for the constitutional rights of all parties."

A warrant, a chase, and a night of gunfire

The ICC confirmed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa earlier in May, citing incidents in which 32 people were killed between 2016 and 2018. ICC prosecutors accuse him of conspiring with former president Rodrigo Duterte in alleged crimes against humanity.

What followed played out in public. After roughly six months out of sight, dela Rosa surfaced at the Senate. CCTV captured him moving through the building's back halls and stairwells to evade investigators, footage that spread across the country within hours. He then sheltered inside the Senate for several days under what officials called "protective custody," and pleaded in a livestreamed press conference not to be sent to The Hague.

He slipped away in the early hours of 14 May, after a night of chaos and gunfire at the Senate complex.

Who is Dela Rosa

Dela Rosa, 64, is a former chief of the Philippine National Police and was the lead enforcer of the anti-drug campaign during Duterte's 2016 to 2022 presidency. Known by the nickname "Bato," Tagalog for "Rock," he built his career alongside Duterte, going back to Duterte's years as mayor of Davao City.

Estimates of the drug war's death toll vary widely. Philippine police data records more than 6,000 deaths in anti-drug operations. The ICC has estimated that 12,000 to 30,000 people were killed between 2016 and 2019, and independent monitors believe the true figure is higher.

Dela Rosa denies inciting or taking part in any illegal killings during that period. He has rejected the ICC's allegations.

The jurisdiction question

Dela Rosa argues that the ICC has no power to order his arrest without the approval of the Philippine Supreme Court, and that any legitimate warrant should pass through a local court first.

The Philippines was once a member of the ICC, but Duterte withdrew the country after the court began examining the drug war. Under the ICC's rules, the court keeps jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed while the Philippines was still a member, a window that runs from 2016 to 2019.

Duterte himself was arrested at Manila's airport in March 2025 and has been held in ICC custody in The Hague since. He maintains his innocence, and a date for his trial has not been set.

Why Filipinos abroad are watching

For Filipinos in Singapore and across the diaspora, the case is one of the most-watched political stories from home. It sits at the centre of a wider power struggle between the Marcos and Duterte camps, the same rift behind the recent impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte and the turmoil in the Senate leadership.

How the Philippine government handles an ICC warrant against a sitting senator will shape the country's relationship with international justice for years. The story is still moving, and the next step depends on whether police locate and detain dela Rosa.

Related reading

• The Philippine Senate in Crisis: Three Converging Storms in May 2026, the wider political backdrop to this case.
• 48th ASEAN Summit Wraps in Cebu: What It Means for OFWs, recent Philippine and regional developments.

Last reviewed 21 May 2026. This is a developing story and details can change fast. Senator dela Rosa has not been convicted of any offence and denies the allegations against him. This article summarises reporting by Al Jazeera, Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and CNN. Verify current developments with established news outlets.

Hero photo: AI-generated illustrative image of an empty legislative chamber, used as a symbolic editorial scene-setter, not a depiction of any specific chamber or event.