The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is preparing a 10,000-personnel task force for possible dragnet operations if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant of arrest against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities have not yet received any official warrant from the ICC against the senator. According to Remulla, any information regarding a supposed arrest order remains unconfirmed unless an official copy is presented.
“As of the latest update, the DILG is preparing a 10k task force for dragnet operations in case a warrant of arrest for Senator Bato is issued,” Remulla said.
The interior chief also said dela Rosa is currently in the Davao Region.
Reports earlier circulated claiming that the ICC had already issued an arrest warrant against the senator. Dela Rosa previously served as Philippine National Police chief during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The ICC considers dela Rosa a “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case filed against Duterte over the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Since Ombudsman Boying Remulla mentioned in a radio program in November that dela Rosa allegedly had an ICC warrant, the senator has not appeared in Senate sessions, according to reports.
Because of his absences, dela Rosa was reported as the “most absent” senator in the 20th Congress. Despite this, he recently filed two proposed measures in the Senate.
The Senate has also asked dela Rosa to explain his continued absences amid calls for him to stop receiving salary payments.
Meanwhile, lawyer Israelito Torreon said their camp has not received any arrest warrant from the ICC against his client. Torreon also urged the government to release a formal statement if any arrest order had already passed through Philippine courts.
