Remulla: ICC warrant vs Bato is real

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December 7, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla stood by his earlier statement that there is already an arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the latter’s alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in the previous administration’s war on drugs.

In an interview with dzMM Teleradyo yesterday, Remulla said he learned about the existence of the arrest warrant though his former colleagues in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and someone acting as a “liaison” for the ICC.

“It was Saturday morning, one month ago. My former colleagues in the DOJ arrived at my house and we talked about it. Then I asked them, ‘where is the arrest warrant?’ Then they showed me the first page of it,” Remulla recounted.

“The next day, I was talking with someone liaisoning for ICC, who showed me the entire document,” Remulla added, referring to the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.

He said he had an unofficial copy of the arrest warrant in his cellphone, but did not show it during the interview.

It was on Nov. 8 when Remulla disclosed in his co-hosted radio program “Executive Session” on dzRH that an arrest warrant has already been issued by the ICC against Dela Rosa as co-accused of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the crimes against humanity cases.

The DOJ, Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which has supervision over the Philippine National Police, had earlier said they have yet to receive a copy of the supposed arrest warrant from the ICC.

The DILG also said no Red Notice from the Interpol has yet been issued against Dela Rosa.

Nonetheless, since Remulla’s pronouncement, Dela Rosa has yet to report for work at the Senate or appear in any public engagement.