ICC Says No Public Warrant Issued in Philippines Amid Rumors Involving Senator

The International Criminal Court said on May 9, 2026, that no public arrest warrant has been issued in relation to the situation in the Philippines. The statement came after reports circulated about a possible warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“No public arrest warrants have been issued in relation to the situation in the Philippines,” ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet told reporters.

The court added that whether warrants remain private or are made public rests within its discretion. There have been instances where ICC warrants stayed secret until executed. One such case involved former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.

The warrant against him was issued on March 7, 2025, but became public and was carried out on March 11, 2025, the day of his arrest. In other situations, warrants have been public from the start. Examples include the ICC cases involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In November 2025, officials said the ICC had already issued a warrant of arrest against Dela Rosa. The next step would typically involve transmitting the warrant to the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime, followed by implementation. As of May 9, however, a high-level source told Rappler the supposed warrant had not yet been transmitted to that agency.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government also said it had received no information about such a warrant. Officials added they were preparing to implement a warrant in case one is issued against Dela Rosa. According to the latest information, the senator is in the Davao Region.

Another source said he is in Mindanao. “As of latest update, the DILG is preparing a 10k task force for the dragnet operations in case a warrant of arrest for Senator Bato is issued,” an official told Rappler.

“Any appropriate police action, if and when necessary, shall be undertaken with full adherence to due process, the rule of law, and respect for human rights,” PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement on May 9. Dela Rosa has not been seen in public and has not reported to work in the Senate since the reports emerged.

Others named included Senator Bong Go and former police chiefs Vicente Danao and Oscar Albayalde. The case covers three counts involving 49 incidents of killings and 78 victims linked to the Davao Death Squad and the nationwide war on drugs.

An ICC-accredited counsel and international law expert said in February that naming individuals like Dela Rosa indicated the court could be considering warrants.