NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag revealed on Friday that additional arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) linked to the previous administration’s anti‑drug campaign could be issued within the next 30 days.
Speaking during a roundtable discussion, Matibag made the projection when asked how long authorities and the public might wait after the warrant issued against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. He clarified, however, that he had no information on whether the new orders would be released one by one or as a single batch. “I don’t know because there is really a push. Those who are pushing for this are very active. Not from the government,” he added.
Matibag emphasized that the recent developments — including Dela Rosa’s temporary stay under Senate protective custody and his subsequent disappearance — as well as the legal battles involving former President Rodrigo Duterte, have provided important lessons for law enforcement.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court’s recent denial of the temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Dela Rosa now serves as clear guidance for agencies like the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP). “Good thing now, there is already guidance somehow from the Supreme Court when it issued the denial of the TRO,” he said, noting that this ruling strengthens the legal basis for serving any future warrants.
The ICC confirmed the existence of the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa on the same day he appeared at the Senate following six months of absence. The court’s Pre‑Trial Chamber I stated there are reasonable grounds to believe he bears individual responsibility for crimes against humanity, specifically murder, committed between July 2016 and April 2018. During that period, when Dela Rosa served as chief of the PNP, at least 32 people were killed as part of the government’s anti‑drug operations. After the Senate session and a related shooting incident, Dela Rosa went into hiding, prompting the Department of Justice to direct the NBI and PNP to locate and arrest him, now that legal obstacles had been removed.
Matibag earlier confirmed that the agency received intelligence indicating “several” other individuals will also be named in upcoming ICC issuances. He stressed that regardless of who is targeted or their position in society, the NBI follows standard protocols in serving warrants and carrying out arrests. This aligns with the ICC’s February 13, 2026 disclosure, which identified Dela Rosa, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and others as co‑perpetrators alongside Duterte. According to the court’s Document Containing Charges, from November 2011 to March 2019, all accused shared a common plan to “neutralize” alleged criminals — particularly those linked to drugs — through widespread violence and murder.
