Philippines: Government calls for arrest of former police chief subject to International Criminal Court warrant

Ronald Dela Rosa, former police chief between 2016 and 2018 and senator since 2019, is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity in connection with the war on drugs led under ex-president Rodrigo Duterte of which he was the main architect. He briefly took refuge in the Upper House to escape arrest, while the government tried to enforce the arrest warrant issued by the ICC.

The government’s position

“By his own behavior, he placed himself outside the protection of the law,” declared Attorney General Darlene Berberabe, the government’s main representative, in an appeal to the Supreme Court asking the court to reject Ronald Dela Rosa’s request that disputes the legality of the arrest warrant. “Until he submits to lawful authorities, he must be considered a fugitive from justice and should not be allowed to seek redress in the courts,” reads the document dated Saturday but sent to the media on Sunday.

Ronald Dela Rosa’s whereabouts have been unknown since he managed to quietly leave the Senate building on Thursday. The Philippine Department of Justice said Friday that the ICC warrant would not be executed until the Supreme Court rules on Ronald Dela Rosa’s petition, unless he attempts to flee abroad, in which case he would be detained.

The legal arguments present

Ronald Dela Rosa argues that the ICC mandate is illegal. He highlights that the Philippines withdrew in 2019 from the treaty that established it. The ICC prosecutor opened an investigation into the crackdown on drugs led by the Philippines in 2018. This bloody campaign, launched by Rodrigo Duterte after his election as president in 2016, left thousands dead, including many drug users and small-scale drug dealers. narcotics, according to human rights observers.