Bato ICC Warrant Now Public: Drug War Case Takes Major Turn
The ICC prosecution welcomed the unsealing of the arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa over alleged drug war killings.
The International Criminal Court prosecution has welcomed the unsealing of the arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, marking a major new turn in the long-running drug war case watched closely in the Philippines.
According to GMA News, the ICC Office of the Prosecutor said the warrant is an important step in its pursuit of accountability for alleged crimes committed during the Duterte administration’s so-called war on drugs. The prosecution said the warrant was issued secretly on November 6, 2025 and was later conveyed to relevant Philippine authorities.
The ICC prosecution said the Pre-Trial Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Dela Rosa, together with former President Rodrigo Duterte and other alleged co-perpetrators, was responsible for murders in the Philippines from July 2016 to April 2018. It also cited his roles as former Davao City police director and later Philippine National Police chief.
The prosecution said the alleged murders form part of a sample that may represent a broader pattern. It also called on direct witnesses, especially former and current members of the PNP, to come forward and provide information related to alleged crimes during the anti-drug campaign.
Dela Rosa was placed under Senate protective custody after National Bureau of Investigation agents, reportedly carrying a copy of the ICC warrant, pursued him inside Senate premises. The senator’s case is now likely to draw intense public attention as questions over enforcement, jurisdiction, and accountability continue to unfold. Source: GMA News Online
