The International Criminal Court revealed an arrest warrant on Monday for a distinguished Philippine senator associated with the controversial war on drugs directed by former president Rodrigo Duterte, which allegedly included extrajudicial killings of suspects. The warrant, initially issued confidentially in November, accuses Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine national police and an ally of Duterte, of committing the crime against humanity of murder involving “at least 32 individuals” between July 2016 and the end of April 2018. Duterte, dela Rosa, and other police officials have refuted claims of authorizing the killings of drug suspects, asserting that the suspects were shot in self-defense after threatening law enforcement. During his tenure, Duterte openly and frequently issued death threats to drug suspects.
The warrant stated that after reviewing evidence presented by prosecutors, judges concluded that dela Rosa played a significant role in the alleged crime of murder, designating him as an “indirect co-perpetrator.” Dela Rosa appeared unexpectedly at the Philippines Senate on Monday following a summons as part of a new inquiry into the purported extrajudicial killings. National Bureau of Investigation officers attempted to approach dela Rosa as he entered the Senate, but he swiftly entered the plenary hall and sought refuge among fellow senators. Former Philippine senator Antonio Trillanes displayed the warrant to the media in Manila, and the ICC verified its legitimacy.
Dela Rosa, who previously served as the national police chief under Duterte, was instrumental in enforcing the aggressive campaign against illicit drugs that resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals, primarily low-level suspects. Philippine police authorities have called on dela Rosa to appear for an investigation into his involvement in the killings during the Duterte administration. Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch, hailed the warrant as a significant step in holding those responsible for atrocities during the Philippines’ violent ‘drug war’ accountable. She urged Philippine authorities to promptly arrest dela Rosa and transfer him to The Hague for trial.
Duterte was apprehended in March last year and held in the Netherlands on charges of crimes against humanity related to his directives for deadly anti-drug operations during his presidency. Although Duterte has denied the accusations, judges have determined there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a trial. The exact trial date has yet to be set, with Duterte missing multiple court hearings due to purported health issues. The surge in killings of mostly impoverished drug suspects occurred during Duterte’s tenure as mayor of Davao and continued after he assumed the presidency in 2016. The fatalities during police operations raised concerns among human rights organizations and foreign governments, notably the United States.