Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa spoke out on Monday after the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) said they were open to talking to the International Criminal Court (ICC) about their investigation into former President Duterte’s war on drugs. Dela Rosa made it clear that the DOJ’s decision to engage with the ICC is beyond their control.
He said, “Go ahead kung anong gusto nila. Hindi namin sila maco-control… Basta ako, very solid ‘yung aking paniniwala na walang jurisdiction ang ICC sa ating bansa.” (They can do whatever they want. We can’t control them. As for me, I firmly believe that the ICC has no authority in our country.)
Dela Rosa, who was the head of the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s presidency, also emphasized that if the ICC comes to the country, they will go to the Supreme Court to determine if the ICC really has the right to investigate in the Philippines.
Dela Rosa explained that he would not recognize any communication from the ICC, as doing so would mean accepting their authority over the country. He also questioned the ICC’s actions, saying that their investigation into the drug war was less about justice and more about the ICC asserting control over countries.
The senator continued to defend the war on drugs, calling it a success. He mentioned how many Filipinos thanked him for making the country safer. According to official records, about 6,200 people died in police drug operations, but some human rights groups say the number could be as high as 30,000 due to other related killings that were not reported.
In 2019, the Philippines pulled out from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, after the court began investigating Duterte’s drug war. However, in January 2023, the ICC decided to reopen the investigation. In July 2023, the ICC’s Appeals Chamber refused to stop the probe, which led to criticism from some Philippine officials.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also stood firm in saying that the Philippines will not follow any ICC arrest orders against Duterte, claiming that the court has no power in the country and that its involvement threatens the nation’s sovereignty.
