Bato admits fearing ICC arrest, detention

Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa fears the day he might get an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in carrying out the war on drugs, which left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

He said his fear stemmed not from the inevitability of his detention, but from the fact that he might never see his three grandchildren once he is detained at the ICC detention chamber in The Hague. As Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Dela Rosa had implemented former president Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, however, said that with President Marcos saying the government will "not lift a finger" to assist the ICC in its probe, the court cannot enforce an arrest warrant in the Philippines.

Guevarra told "Storycon" on Cignal TV's One News that the ICC relies on local enforcement to serve arrest warrants.

Dela Rosa or Duterte can be arrested only if they go to a country that belongs to the ICC. Guevarra said the ICC cannot bring its own team to the Philippines.