MANILA, Philippines β Senator Ronald βBatoβ dela Rosa left the Senate building early on May 14, 2026, after being given temporary refuge there following reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against him for crimes against humanity related to the Duterte administration's drug war.
Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police chief under President Rodrigo Duterte from 2016 to 2018, had been staying in the Senate since May 12 after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) failed to serve a warrant. The senator denied any knowledge of the warrant and said he would face any legal proceedings.
On May 14, Dela Rosa left the Senate premises at around 4 a.m. and returned to his home in Davao City, according to his staff. He later said in a statement that he was not hiding and would cooperate with authorities if a valid warrant is presented.
The ICC investigation covers thousands of deaths in the drug war, which human rights groups say involved extrajudicial killings. Dela Rosa has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said the ICC has no jurisdiction over the Philippines, which withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.
As of May 15, 2026, no official confirmation of the ICC warrant has been released by the Philippine government or the ICC. The situation remains fluid, with legal experts debating the enforceability of any ICC warrant in the country.
