The Philippine National Police (PNP) clarified that Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s previous position as former PNP chief has no effect on the ongoing process regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest issued against him.

PNP spokesperson PBGen. Randulf Tuaño said the delay in implementation is purely procedural and should not be interpreted as preferential treatment due to Dela Rosa’s past leadership role in the police force.

Tuaño explained that authorities are still awaiting formal coordination from Interpol before any enforcement action can proceed. He added that there are two possible legal pathways for executing the ICC warrant: extradition based on a court order or a “direct surrender” arrangement similar to what was applied in the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The ICC has recently confirmed the issuance of the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, who is being linked to alleged crimes against humanity connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Meanwhile, developments inside the Senate have placed Dela Rosa under protective custody after he briefly evaded law enforcement presence within the chamber during earlier attempts to serve the warrant.

According to reports, Senate leaders moved to secure him under institutional protection while legal questions surrounding the ICC order are being addressed.

Despite the legal controversy, the PNP stressed that its actions remain guided by due process and coordination with relevant agencies, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Interpol through the Philippine Committee on Policing Cooperation (PCPC), which has yet to convene on the matter.

Authorities said that once proper legal instructions and international coordination are in place, law enforcement agencies are prepared to act in accordance with established procedures