Philippines seeks Supreme Court approval to allow arrest of Duterte-era drug war chief for trial at the International Criminal Court.

MANILA, May 17 — The Philippines government has asked the Supreme Court to allow the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s top drug war enforcer so he can face trial before the International Criminal Court.

The request comes after the ICC last week unsealed an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is accused alongside Duterte and others of crimes against humanity, including murder.

Dela Rosa briefly took shelter in the Senate last week while seeking a court order to block his arrest by state authorities. However, the government’s chief lawyer argued in a filing that he had effectively placed himself “outside the protection of the law” and should be considered a fugitive if he does not surrender.

His whereabouts are currently unknown after he left the Senate building discreetly on Thursday.

The Justice Department said the ICC warrant will only be enforced once the Supreme Court rules on his petition, unless he attempts to leave the country.

Dela Rosa has argued that the ICC has no jurisdiction since the Philippines withdrew from the tribunal in 2019, but the government maintains that withdrawal does not affect ongoing cases.

The ICC began investigating the Philippine drug war in 2018, a campaign launched under Duterte in 2016 that left thousands dead, according to human rights groups.

Duterte was arrested last year and is currently detained in The Hague awaiting trial. Dela Rosa, who was national police chief during the anti-drug campaign, later became a senator. — AFP