Manila: The Philippine government has issued a directive for the immediate arrest of former National Police Chief Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is currently a fugitive from justice. This decision follows the Philippine Supreme Court's rejection of Dela Rosa's appeal to suspend the enforcement of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him for charges related to murder and crimes against humanity.

According to Thai News Agency, Justice Secretary Frederic Wida has instructed the National Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to promptly apprehend Senator Dela Rosa, citing the absence of any remaining legal barriers after the Supreme Court's dismissal of his appeal. Wida also cautioned that individuals assisting Dela Rosa in evading capture will face criminal charges both within the Philippines and on an international level. In response, the Philippine National Police Chief has placed all immigration and border patrol units on high alert to prevent any attempts by Dela Rosa to flee the country.

The ICC had initially issued a secret arrest warrant in November 2025, which was made public on May 11. Senator Dela Rosa stands accused of crimes against humanity, linked to his role in overseeing the controversial war on drugs during his tenure as National Police Chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte. This campaign led to an estimated 12,000-30,000 deaths.

In recent developments, Senator Dela Rosa had sought refuge within the parliament building for several days. The situation escalated into chaos and gunfire between government officials and parliamentary security forces. Amidst the turmoil, Dela Rosa managed to flee with the assistance of a fellow senator and political ally. His current location remains unknown, though security officials claim to have some leads on his whereabouts.

The case of Senator Dela Rosa highlights the ongoing political tensions and power struggles between the Duterte family and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Former President Duterte has been detained in The Hague, Netherlands, since 2025, awaiting trial. In a related political saga, Vice President Sara Duterte, daughter of the former president, has recently been impeached for the second time by the House of Representatives and is set to face trial in the Senate in July.