Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Saturday that he has yet to receive official confirmation that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
“None yet to my information. As far as I am concerned, until I see the official copy, it is hearsay,” Remulla said.
Despite this, the DILG chief disclosed that the agency is already preparing a “10k task force” for possible dragnet operations should an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa be issued.
“We are preparing a 10k task force for the dragnet operations in case a warrant of arrest for Senator Bato is issued,” he said.
Remulla said the task force is now being organized after the government received what he described as “unverified information” earlier in the day.
“It takes time to mobilize,” he added.
The DILG secretary also disclosed Dela Rosa’s current location, although no further details were immediately provided.
In November last year, Ombudsman Boying Remulla earlier claimed that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, though the Department of Justice (DOJ) later said it was still verifying the information.
The DOJ in January also declined to comment on reports that it was preparing to implement a possible ICC arrest warrant against the senator.
Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since Nov. 11, 2026.
In February this year, the ICC identified Dela Rosa as among the alleged co-perpetrators of former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the drug war killings.
According to the ICC prosecution’s Document Containing the Charges, Duterte and his alleged co-perpetrators carried out a “common plan” to “neutralize alleged criminals” through violent acts, including murder.
Dela Rosa served as Davao City police chief from 2012 to 2013 and later became chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018 during Duterte’s presidency.
It was under Dela Rosa’s leadership of the PNP that the Duterte administration implemented its controversial anti-drug campaign through “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.”
Government data showed more than 6,000 drug suspects were killed during police anti-drug operations, while human rights groups estimate the number of deaths may have reached 30,000, including unreported killings.
The ICC last month confirmed the charges of crimes against humanity against Duterte over killings linked to his anti-drug campaign during his terms as Davao City mayor and Philippine president.
