The Philippine government is officially petitioning the Supreme Court to permit the arrest of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, a key figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs. This move comes on the heels of an unsealed International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant accusing the senator, along with Duterte and other officials, of crimes against humanity. Solicitor-General Darlene Berberabe argued in a recent filing that by evading authorities, Dela Rosa has forfeited his right to legal protection and should be considered a fugitive, urging the court to reject his plea to block the arrest.

Dela Rosa, who served as the national police chief during the height of the drug crackdown, contends that the ICC's warrant holds no weight because the Philippines withdrew from the tribunal in 2019. However, the government's legal counsel maintains that this withdrawal does not absolve the nation of its obligations regarding proceedings that were initiated before the exit. While the senator's current location remains unclear following his quiet departure from the Senate, the Department of Justice has stated that while the warrant remains pending before the Supreme Court, he will only be taken into custody if he attempts to flee the country.