Philippines Orders Arrest of Senator dela Rosa, Wanted by ICC for Role in Drug War

(CNA, Manila, 21st, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The Philippine government today ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly anti-drug campaign. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that Senator dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief, was the enforcer of the war on drugs that resulted in thousands of deaths in the Philippines. Last week, hours after a shootout between government law enforcement and Senate security personnel, dela Rosa fled from the Senate building and has been at large since. Philippine Secretary of Justice Fredderick Vida told the media, "I hereby confirm that Philippine law enforcement agencies... have now been instructed to arrest Senator dela Rosa." The ICC issued an arrest warrant for dela Rosa last week, accusing him and Duterte, along with other "co-perpetrators," of the crime against humanity of murder. On the day of the shootout, a tense chase scene unfolded on the Senate stairs, but law enforcement officers, unable to arrest dela Rosa due to sanctuary provided by the Senate leadership, subsequently suspended their operation. Vida added that the Philippine Supreme Court yesterday issued a provisional ruling rejecting the former police chief's request for a temporary restraining order, meaning the ICC's arrest warrant can now be enforced. "We have taken this action so that justice may be served," Vida said, warning that anyone attempting to help dela Rosa evade arrest "will face consequences." Dela Rosa's lawyer said they will appeal the Supreme Court's decision.