Philippines NBI declares Senator Ronald Dela Rosa armed and dangerous in ICC arrest hunt

National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag wrote to the Philippine National Police seeking cancellation of more than 100 firearms licenses issued to Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged involvement in the Duterte administration’s anti‑drug campaign. The NBI publicly classified Dela Rosa, a former police chief, as “armed and dangerous” and urged him to surrender voluntarily.

The Senate had earlier placed Dela Rosa under protective custody, but he left the chamber after a shooting incident involving a Senate sergeant‑at‑arms. The Supreme Court rejected a temporary restraining order that could have halted enforcement, and the Department of Justice ordered both the NBI and the police to execute the arrest. Dela Rosa disappeared after leaving the Senate building on May 14, and investigators believe he remains somewhere in the Philippines. The operation marks a significant step by the Marcos administration in cooperating with the ICC, which has sought accountability for thousands of drug‑war killings.

Matibag said, “Lahat ng target of warrant, ang aming point of view, we will always be ready baka armado at lumaban ang ating subject,” emphasizing that law‑enforcement agencies treat the senator as a potentially armed fugitive.