Philippines authorities negotiate arrest of Senator dela Rosa

Philippine authorities have identified the location of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is currently in hiding in Mindanao under the protection of an unidentified armed group. The Senator is the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant regarding alleged crimes against humanity, specifically murders linked to the drug war during his tenure as Davao City Police Director and Chief of the Philippine National Police.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated that the government is prioritizing negotiations with the armed group to secure the Senator’s surrender. Remulla warned that a forced arrest attempt could lead to significant bloodshed, suggesting that a violent confrontation could potentially result in up to 10,000 deaths, though he did not provide the basis for this estimate.

The ICC Chamber previously found reasonable grounds to believe dela Rosa is responsible, jointly with others including former President Duterte, for murders occurring between 2016 and 2018. Authorities are currently engaging in talks with the group sheltering the Senator to ensure an orderly apprehension and avoid a violent escalation.