MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, that it is awaiting a formal court order before taking action on the newly unsealed arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
While the ICC has publicly confirmed the warrant, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño stated that the police force remains guided by “existing laws and lawful directives” and will only activate its operational contingency plans upon receiving a directive from a Philippine court.
The PNP’s stance adds a layer of procedural complexity to the ongoing standoff at the Senate.
- The NCB-Interpol Channel: The ICC warrant is typically coursed through the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC).
- The Domestic Requirement: Tuaño clarified that the PNP will implement “necessary operational measures” only if a local court order is issued based on coordination through these international liaisons.
- Senate Sanctuary: This aligns with the position of newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who has asserted that the chamber will only recognize arrest warrants issued by Philippine courts, effectively honoring the Senate’s protective custody of Dela Rosa.
While the PNP waits on the ICC matter, its Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has moved forward with a separate, domestic investigation.
- Subpoena Served: On Monday, the CIDG served a subpoena at Dela Rosa’s residence in Davao City and his Senate office in Pasay.
- Subject Matter: The subpoena is linked to a revived local probe into alleged human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings during his tenure as Davao City police chief and PNP chief.
- Command to Appear: Dela Rosa is required to appear at Camp Crame on Thursday, May 14, 2026, to provide a sworn statement. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified that this subpoena is “not an arrest warrant” and is technically unrelated to the ICC case.
The unsealed 16-page warrant from the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I finds “reasonable grounds” to hold Dela Rosa responsible for the crime against humanity of murder.
- Timeline: The charges cover the period from July 3, 2016, to April 2018, during which at least 32 specific killings were cited.
- “Common Plan”: The chamber alleges that Dela Rosa, along with former President Rodrigo Duterte (who is already in ICC custody), agreed on a “common plan” to “neutralize” targets—a term the court interprets as an order to kill.
- Risk of Interference: The ICC justified the necessity of the arrest by pointing to Dela Rosa’s public labeling of witnesses as “traitors” and his alleged involvement in disinformation campaigns, which the court views as a risk to the integrity of the investigation.
“The PNP will implement the appropriate contingency plans… in accordance with due process and established protocols, in the event that a court order is issued.” — Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño