Philippine Supreme Court says won't stop ICC arrest of drug war enforcer

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Manila: The Philippine Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a request by high-profile Senator Ronald dela Rosa to block an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Dela Rosa, the chief enforcer of former President Rodrigo Duterte's lethal anti narcotics campaign, had petitioned the judiciary for a temporary restraining order to halt his detention and potential transfer to the Hague-based tribunal.

The International Criminal Court recently unsealed the warrant, charging Dela Rosa with crimes against humanity for murder stemming from the bloody crackdown between 2016 and 2022. 

The senator challenged the international action, arguing local law enforcement lacks the constitutional authority to execute foreign judicial orders since the country withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.

Government lawyers pushed back against the request, labeling Dela Rosa a fugitive from justice after he quietly slipped out of the Senate building where he had sought refuge. The judicial panel ruled that domestic state agencies are legally permitted to proceed with apprehending the senator, though additional issues raised in his broader petition remain subject to future deliberation. 

While Dela Rosa denies all involvement in illegal killings, national law enforcement authorities have confirmed they will actively execute the apprehension order following this critical legal victory.