The Philippine government has ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a key figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, following a court ruling that cleared the way for his detention.
The justice department says law enforcement agencies must track down and apprehend the senator, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (International Criminal Court) for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the country’s deadly “war on drugs.”
Justice official Fredderick Vida said dela Rosa is now considered a fugitive and warned that anyone assisting him in evading arrest will face legal consequences. He said authorities are actively pursuing leads on his whereabouts.
The move comes a day after the Philippines’ Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking to block the senator’s arrest, strengthening the legal basis for enforcement action.
Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, was one of the main architects of the anti-drug crackdown during Duterte’s presidency from 2016 to 2022, a campaign that human rights groups say led to thousands of extrajudicial killings.
According to ICC estimates, between 12,000 and 30,000 people were killed during the operation, though official Philippine figures are lower. The court has been investigating whether the campaign involved systematic abuses amounting to crimes against humanity.
Dela Rosa denies any wrongdoing, insisting he did not authorise or take part in unlawful killings.
The case is closely tied to former President Rodrigo Duterte, who also faces charges before the ICC and has been in custody in The Hague since March 2025.
Philippine National Police officials say they will comply with the law and assist in enforcement, while stressing that any operations will be conducted professionally and in accordance with constitutional rights.
The case has intensified political tensions in the Philippines, where Duterte remains influential and the anti-drug campaign continues to divide public opinion between supporters who view it as necessary and critics who call it unlawful and abusive.
Authorities say the search for Senator dela Rosa is ongoing as the legal and political fallout from the ICC case continues to unfold.
