Dela Rosa eyes SC help vs possible ICC warrant

MANILA, Philippines — Amid reports that a warrant for the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) is on the way, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said yesterday he will turn to the Supreme Court (SC) for help to thwart any move by the Marcos administration to help enforce an arrest order.

“That is our last resort, once the ICC issues the warrant of arrest, and if government agencies cooperate with the ICC in implementing the warrant despite lack of jurisdiction,” Dela Rosa said in an interview with dwIZ yesterday.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), meanwhile, said it has not yet received any information or update on the supposed release by the ICC of warrants of arrest against Duterte, and possibly against Dela Rosa.

Retired SC Associate Justice Antonio Carpio earlier hinted that the ICC arrest warrants may come out sometime in September.

“The Supreme Court would only act on it once a warrant of arrest is issued. The ICC is beyond our jurisdiction and control, so we have to wait if they will indeed issue a warrant,” Dela Rosa said.

Duterte, Dela Rosa, and retired Gen. Oscar Albayalde are facing ICC investigation for their role in the killings of mostly defenseless and poor drug suspects in the previous administration’s brutal narcotics crackdown.

The others suspects named in the case are PNP Northern Luzon Command chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., PNP Drug Enforcement Group chief Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, and National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo.

Dela Rosa had maintained he would not cooperate with the ICC and that he would not flee to escape possible prosecution. He also urged the Senate to pass a bill banning extradition of Filipino suspects to the ICC – a move seen by critics as self-serving.

Dela Rosa expressed hopes President Marcos would keep his word not to let ICC investigators in the country. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that while the government would not cooperate with the ICC, it would also not stop investigators from continuing their probe and the Interpol from implementing the warrant.

Meanwhile, DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said that while the department continues to monitor developments in the case, it is not aware of reports that the ICC may issue an arrest warrant by September.

“We have no information on the matter. Reason is simple: we are no longer part of the ICC and thus not bound by any of its processes. We continue to monitor the developments,” he told The STAR in a text message.

Remulla and Guevarra both confirmed that the ICC has requested assistance from the government to facilitate an interview of five incumbent and former officials of PNP on their alleged involvement in the drug war killings.

However, Remulla said they only took note of the request but would not act on it favorably since the government no longer has any obligation to cooperate with the tribunal following its withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019. — Daphne Galvez