DOJ AWAITS SC RULING BEFORE ACTING ON POSSIBLE ICC WARRANT FOR BATO

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is holding off on any action regarding a possible International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for Senator Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa, pending the Supreme Court's (SC) ruling on petitions challenging the March 11 arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

- By JEFFREY DAMICOG

On the afternoon of March 11, Duterte and Dela Rosa jointly filed a petition with the SC seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction to halt Duterte’s arrest.

Subsequently, Duterte’s children also filed several petitions with the SC, opposing both the arrest and the former president’s turnover to The Hague in the Netherlands, where he is currently detained on charges of crimes against humanity related to the war on drugs during his tenure as Davao City mayor and the early years of his presidency.

All petitions remain pending before the high court.