General asks Court to block dela Rosa ICC arrest
SkimNews Take
The OSG's argument that the Philippines cannot be a "sanctuary for impunity" implicitly acknowledges the domestic legal system's perceived inability or unwillingness to prosecute the alleged crimes.
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Office of the Solicitor General filed arguments before the Supreme Court that the Philippines may enforce the ICC arrest warrant under Republic Act 9851, which authorises surrender of suspects for grave international crimes.
- Senator Ronald dela Rosa asked the Supreme Court to block his arrest and surrender to the International Criminal Court, claiming the ICC lost jurisdiction after the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.
- International Criminal Court unsealed a warrant for dela Rosa’s arrest on Monday (dated November), prompting the OSG to note that a separate Philippine court finding is unnecessary because the ICC warrant already exists.
- Senate granted temporary protection to dela Rosa, but he slipped out before dawn on Thursday and his current whereabouts are unknown, leading the OSG to label him a fugitive and reject his petition.
Why it matters: The OSG’s stance secures victims’ chance for accountability while denying dela Rosa any legal shield, meaning the Philippines will have to honor the ICC warrant and cannot shelter alleged war‑on‑drugs perpetrators.
