Philippine Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Thursday ordered law enforcement to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. Vida declared the senator a “fugitive from justice” and warned that anyone aiding his escape would face consequences.

Dela Rosa, the former police chief who led President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly “war on drugs” from 2016 to 2022, emerged from six months of hiding last week and took refuge in the Senate before slipping away again on May 14. His lawyers say he remains in the Philippines.

The ICC estimates that between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed in the anti-drug campaign from 2016 to 2019. Dela Rosa denies any involvement in illegal killings, while Duterte, also charged with crimes against humanity, has been in ICC custody in The Hague since March 2025 and maintains his innocence.

Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez said the police would follow the justice department's directive but stopped short of confirming an immediate arrest, pledging to act “impartially, professionally, and within the bounds of the law.”

The case marks a significant test for the Philippine justice system as it grapples with international pressure to hold former officials accountable for the bloody drug war.

Source: www.aljazeera.com