The Philippine government has announced a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity. Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla of the Department of the Interior and Local Government disclosed that a bounty of 50 million Philippine pesos (around $786,000) has been set to capture the fugitive senator.
The ICC, in a decision by Pre-Trial Chamber I, issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa, who served as the chief of the Philippine National Police from July 2016 to April 2018. He is accused of bearing criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity, specifically murder, under the Rome Statute. The charges are linked to his oversight of the controversial nationwide anti-narcotics campaign, Project Double Barrel. This initiative reportedly resulted in numerous extrajudicial killings during its implementation, as outlined by both ICC prosecution filings and a landmark UN human rights report.
Under his leadership, dela Rosa issued Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, which split police operations into “Oplan Tokhang” and “Operation High Value Target.” While official records list over 6,000 deaths in police operations, human rights organizations estimate the toll could be as high as 30,000 civilians.
Dela Rosa has been in hiding since May when law enforcement was ordered to enforce the ICC warrant, prompting him to flee the Senate building. His legal team has challenged both the reward and the arrest order, claiming it violates due process under the Philippine Constitution. They argue that the law concerning the surrender of suspects to international tribunals is not mandatory. Nonetheless, government officials have stated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the senator’s capture in accordance with both domestic law and international obligations.
This development comes in the wake of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s surrender in March 2025 to the ICC for similar charges. Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in March 2019, the court retains jurisdiction over crimes committed prior to withdrawal, underscoring their ongoing investigations. The Supreme Court of the Philippines has reinforced that exiting the ICC does not cancel previously accrued obligations, reinforcing the legal framework in place for extradition to The Hague.
The pursuit of dela Rosa highlights continued international legal pressure on the Philippines concerning its anti-narcotics campaign, which has faced significant scrutiny globally. The outcome of these proceedings could have lasting implications for international law and the accountability of state leaders in similar contexts.