Philippine court clears way for ICC arrest of Duterte’s drug war ally

The Philippine Supreme Court ruled 9-5-1 against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s plea to halt his arrest, allowing the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrant to proceed. The ICC issued the arrest warrant last week, accusing Dela Rosa—alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte and others—of crimes against humanity linked to the drug war crackdown. Government agents attempted to arrest Dela Rosa on May 20 but failed after pro-Duterte senators granted him sanctuary. A subsequent confrontation between agents and senate security forced senators to take cover, prompting Dela Rosa’s departure to an undisclosed location. Dela Rosa, who led the national police during Duterte’s early anti-drug campaign, was elected to the Senate in 2019 after retiring from the force. The ICC’s warrant stems from the same drug war policies that led to Duterte’s own arrest last year, with his trial pending in The Hague. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson, Claire Castro, confirmed the arrest warrant’s validity but deferred enforcement to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida. Vida had previously paused arrest efforts pending the Supreme Court’s decision on Dela Rosa’s legal challenges. The ruling addresses only Dela Rosa’s request for interim relief, while broader issues—such as arresting a sitting senator without a Philippine court order—remain unresolved. The court’s full decision on these matters is expected later, leaving Manila’s next steps uncertain.