The ruling clears the way for the apprehension of the former police chief, main enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs
2-MIN READ2-MINAgence France-PressePublished: 4:44pm, 20 May 2026The Philippine Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to block the arrest of a fugitive senator wanted by the International Criminal Court over his role in the nation’s deadly drug war.The interim ruling clears the way for the potential arrest of Senator Ronald dela Rosa, the former national police chief who was the main enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown.“The Supreme Court, in a vote of 9-5-1, denied the prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or status quo ante order filed by Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ M. Dela Rosa,” a court statement said.
The ICC last week unsealed an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, accused along with Duterte and other “co-perpetrators” of the crime against humanity of murder.
Government agents tried to arrest Dela Rosa on the same day, but the pro-Duterte senate leadership foiled the attempt and gave him sanctuary.
Dela Rosa later left the senate for an unknown location following a shooting incident between government agents and senate security personnel on Wednesday that sent senators scurrying for cover in their offices.
