DOJ open to Bato Dela Rosa surrender if ICC issues warrant

Department of Justice (DOJ) Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan stated that the Philippine government is considering extradition and surrender as options if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, with surrender being the faster option.

Over the weekend, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the ICC has issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, although both the ICC and the DOJ have yet to confirm this.

The DOJ and other Philippine agencies have not received any official documents pertaining to the alleged warrant.

ICC spokesperson Dr. Fadi El-Abdallah previously stated that the tribunal cannot confirm such news and that the ICC has only opened one case to date, against former President Duterte.

The Supreme Court has refuted online posts falsely attributing a statement about the alleged ICC arrest warrant to Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

Malacañang also cannot confirm the development.

Dela Rosa, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police during the start of the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign in 2016, is believed to be former President Rodrigo Duterte's co-perpetrator in the drug war.

Duterte has been detained in The Hague since March to face a crimes against humanity charge related to the drug war.