MALACANANG announced on Thursday that it has yet to receive official communication from the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and other alleged co-perpetrators of former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the drug war.
Responding to a query about Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s statement to Kyodo News regarding a potential arrest of Dela Rosa, Press Secretary Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro clarified that no such communication has been received by the Palace.
The statement comes after reports in March that nine individuals, including Dela Rosa, were identified as co-perpetrators in an ICC application for an arrest warrant.
Dela Rosa’s inclusion stems from his role as the architect of “Oplan Tokhang,” a controversial anti-drug campaign first implemented in Davao City during his tenure as police chief.
The lack of official communication from the ICC leaves the situation uncertain, pending further developments and official confirmation from the international court. The Palace’s stance emphasizes the need for official channels of communication in handling such sensitive matters.
