No ICC warrant for Dela Rosa yet, but arrest possible via Interpol

On Sunday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin clarified that there is currently no warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Senator 'Bato' de la Rosa.

However, Bersamin reiterated that Philippine authorities may arrest Dela Rosa if an arrest warrant is issued through Interpol and coursed through proper channels, similar to what was done with former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa has yet to respond to Philstar.com's request for comment on Bersamin's pronouncement.

In March, Dela Rosa was identified as a co-perpetrator with detained Duterte in the war on drugs, according to the ICC's warrant of arrest application.

He was Duterte's chief implementer of the war on drugs, where the government estimated that 6000 people were killed; however, local and international human rights groups estimated the number to be at least 30,000.

Despite the country's withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019, the Philippines remains a member of Interpol, an affiliation through which authorities state that the country has obligations.