Philippines Defends 50 Million Peso Bounty for Senator Wanted by ICC
The Philippine government defends a 50 million peso bounty for Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who faces an ICC arrest warrant over Duterte-era drug war crimes.
POLICY WIRE — Manila, Philippines — The Philippine presidential palace on Monday defended a 50 million peso ($786,646) bounty offered for information resulting in the capture of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Officials stated the reward is a component of a legitimate operation conducted by the Philippine National Police and the Interior Department.
Senator dela Rosa, 64, is currently a fugitive sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged role in crimes against humanity. The charges stem from his leadership during the violent anti-drug crackdowns that occurred throughout the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, beginning in 2016.
The Philippine justice secretary recently directed law enforcement to execute the arrest, following a decision by the nation’s top court to reject the senator’s attempt to block the warrant. The ICC warrant, which was issued in November and unsealed last week, remains enforceable despite legal challenges regarding its validity.
Authorities maintain that the senator is considered a co-perpetrator in the deadly drug war operations. Officials confirmed that law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing leads to locate the senator and fulfill the court-ordered apprehension.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
