Additional ICC warrants expected soon amid search for Bato — NBI

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said more arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) may soon be issued as authorities continue the search for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who remains in hiding following a warrant for crimes against humanity.

Speaking at the Saturday News Forum, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau has received information that additional ICC warrants could be released in the coming days.

“We have information that there are several more individuals who may still be issued arrest warrants," Matibag said in Filipino.

He assured that law enforcement agencies are prepared to act on any new warrants, regardless of who may be named.

“It doesn’t matter who he is or what crime he committed. As long as there is a warrant, we have a protocol in place. So, if an additional arrest warrant is issued, we are always ready to enforce and serve it," said in Filipino.

The statement comes amid the continuing manhunt for dela Rosa, who has been in hiding since May 14 after allegedly slipping out of the Senate premises using a vehicle of Sen. Robin Padilla to evade arrest linked to an ICC warrant.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the senator remains inside the country as of Friday, May 22 and all units have been ordered to locate and arrest him.

“Just like Atong Ang, Sen. Bato is still inside the country. We will be enforcing that warrant of arrest,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Morico said dela Rosa will be brought to the Department of Justice immediately after arrest for booking procedures, regardless of which law enforcement agency locates him first.

“We will be turning him over, after all the booking procedure, turning him over to the Department of Justice,” he said.

PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Dela Rosa may still surrender amid the ongoing search.

“He can also seek protective custody. Meaning, that is surrender,” Nartatez Jr. said in Filipino.

“If he surrenders through peaceful means and yields himself, that would be better," he added.

The ICC earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Dela Rosa after finding reasonable grounds that he may be responsible for crimes against humanity tied to at least 32 killings between 2016 and 2018, during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The Supreme Court has since denied dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order and status quo ante order that sought to block his arrest. — with a report from Cristina Chi