The said order was first issued back in late 2025 as a confidential document.
On Monday, May 11, the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s Pre-Trial Chamber I has unsealed the warrant of arrest issued to incumbent Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa.
The said document, which was was first issued as secret on November 6, 2025, was issued by the chamber composed of Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc and Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera, following an assessment on the the material submitted by the Prosecution.
Then, they found “reasonable grounds” to believe that Dela Rosa is “allegedly criminally responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator” for the crime against humanity of murder over the “war on drugs” waged by the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, pursuant to article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute.
Senator Bato, who served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the previous administration, is alleged to have committed the crime against humanity of murder—article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute—at least during his term that lasted from July 3, 2016 to the end of April 2018, during which no less than 32 persons were killed.
The ICC noted that he was allegedly part of the “common plan” to kill alleged criminals in the Philippines—including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production—between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019.
They also noted Dela Rosa’s capacity during those times, having helmed various positions in the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Davao region until June 2016, including as City Director of the Davao City Police Office from February 2012 to October 2013, and in the PNP Intelligence Group and Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.
After his term in the PNP, he would later be appointed to the position of Director General of the Bureau of Corrections from April 30 to October 12, 2018.
In a video clip, the ICC noted that they leave it up for the Philippine government to enforce the warrant.
Currently, Dela Rosa is placed under the protective custody of the Senate after reappearing after a six-month-long absence following the murmurs of the ICC warrant in late 2025.