The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is “working to verify” information that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant of arrest against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

In a text message to the reporters, DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said the department has yet to receive or see a copy of any such warrant.

“We have also not yet seen or received a copy of said arrest warrant. We shall provide further details as soon as it becomes available,” Martinez added.

The announcement comes after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said in an interview on dzRH's Executive Session that the ICC had already released an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.

The ICC’s scrutiny of Dela Rosa stems from allegations that he was involved in the extrajudicial killings (EJK) and human rights violations linked to the former President Rodrigo Duterte administration’s war on drugs campaign, which has been widely criticized both domestically and internationally.

The ICC began its preliminary examination into the Philippine war on drugs in 2010, and in 2018 formally authorized an investigation into possible crimes against humanity committed during the campaign.

Dela Rosa, who served as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief from 2016 to 2018, has repeatedly denied involvement in illegal killings, maintaining that police operations during his tenure were lawful and aimed at curbing the country’s drug trade.

Currently, Duterte remains under the custody of the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, Netherlands.