The Supreme Court of the Philippines, in a decision rendered on Wednesday, dismissed Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s attempt to block the enforcement of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him. By a 9-5-1 majority, the court declined the request for a temporary restraining order, affirming that enforcement authorities could proceed with the arrest based on the ICC warrant, even without authorization from a domestic court. The court has yet to disclose its reasons, set to be released on May 25, while Dela Rosa’s location has remained undisclosed following a shootout within the state senate on May 13—an incident currently under investigation to determine if it was a staged event to aid his escape. More details are available through JURIST.
Dela Rosa, the former police chief during Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, faces allegations of crimes against humanity for his role in the anti-narcotics campaign that reportedly resulted in over 12,000 deaths. Human Rights Watch attributes at least 2,555 of these deaths to actions by the Philippine National Police. The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber found reasonable grounds to suspect Dela Rosa’s significant involvement, citing contributions such as facilitating and ordering killings, issuing public endorsements of the violence, and promising impunity to participants.
Dela Rosa’s legal counsel argues the ICC’s lack of authority over the Philippines, referencing the country’s 2019 withdrawal from the Rome Statute. This contention echoes a previous attempt by Duterte to challenge the ICC’s jurisdiction but was unsuccessful.
Amnesty International has underscored the obligation of the current administration, led by President Marcos, to ensure Dela Rosa’s arrest. Ritz Lee Santos III, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Philippines, emphasizes the necessity for justice, noting that Dela Rosa’s case is best addressed through the impartial proceedings at The Hague. Santos argues that political power should not shield individuals from accountability.
The accusations against Dela Rosa align with those faced by Duterte, who was apprehended in March 2025. The United Nations has documented a substantial number of unlawful killings during Duterte’s administration, prompting calls for accountability for all involved parties.