Philippines to turn over fugitive senator to International Criminal Court

International Criminal Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Philippine Senator

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, charging him with crimes against humanity. The warrant was unsealed on Monday and covers charges related to his alleged role as top enforcer in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly drug war.

Dela Rosa, 64, is accused of involvement in extrajudicial killings that took place between 2016 and 2019, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. The ICC estimates that the “war on drugs” killed between 12,000 and 30,000 people during this period.

The Philippine government has pledged to cooperate with the ICC’s request to detain dela Rosa. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida stated that Manila considers the arrest warrant valid and will submit to the request of the ICC. However, authorities are waiting for the Philippine Supreme Court to resolve dela Rosa’s petition against the legality of the warrant.

Dela Rosa had been evading arrest earlier this week after fleeing the Senate building despite efforts by the army to apprehend him. Reports of gunfire were heard at the scene, but it is unclear who fired the shots. The senator has denied any involvement in the killings and has pledged to “exhaust all available remedies” to block his transfer to the ICC.

The Philippine government has warned that any attempts to help dela Rosa leave the country would be treated as a “mockery of justice.” Border officials have been informed that they should make an arrest if dela Rosa tries to depart. Dela Rosa’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and he faces similar charges to those against former President Duterte, who is being held in ICC custody in The Hague.

Source: Al Jazeera