Politics · Philippines Bureau
Palace urges PNP to arrest Dela Rosa despite his former police leadership role
Malacañang has challenged the Philippine National Police to proceed with serving an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, regardless of his previous tenure as PNP chief under the Duterte administration.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Palace on Tuesday directed the Philippine National Police to prioritize the execution of an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa issued by the International Criminal Court, emphasizing that his former position as PNP chief should not hinder law enforcement operations.
Malacañang's statement came as the government faced scrutiny over how it would handle the ICC warrant for Dela Rosa, who headed the national police during the Duterte administration's controversial war on drugs.
The Palace press office stressed that institutional procedures must be followed regardless of the senator's background in law enforcement leadership. Officials indicated that personal relationships or historical connections within the PNP should not compromise the police force's operational obligations.
The development marks a significant test of the PNP's independence and its willingness to execute an internationally-issued arrest warrant against a high-ranking political figure with deep ties to the institution. The case has drawn attention to the broader question of how the Philippines will respond to ICC proceedings related to actions taken during the previous administration.