Fresh reports have surfaced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has allegedly issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, though the ICC has yet to confirm this.
Dela Rosa has long been identified as a co-perpetrator alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte in the case of crimes against humanity.
The senator has been absent from public view for six months, following Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla’s revelation that he had seen the ICC warrant against dela Rosa.
This absence stands in stark contrast to dela Rosa’s bold statement last year that he was ready to face whatever consequences awaited him.
ICC arrest warrants are typically sealed and transmitted through Interpol for enforcement. When Duterte was arrested on March 11, 2025, authorities acted on a diffusion notice from Interpol.
At a Senate hearing, former PCTC executive director ret. Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara admitted receiving the notice at 3 a.m. and immediately relaying it to the PNP, NBI, and DOJ, which became the basis for Duterte’s arrest.
If a warrant is indeed issued against dela Rosa, it will serve as a “baptism of fire” for the newly appointed executive director of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC), ret. Maj. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, who was sworn in by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on April 13, 2026.
According to GMA News, Prestoza stated that the PCTC has not yet received any ICC arrest warrant for dela Rosa, though he did not clarify whether a diffusion notice from Interpol had been issued.
Earlier, One PH reported that DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced preparations for a 10,000-person task force to conduct possible dragnet operations should a warrant be released against dela Rosa. # (RRN)
