The International Criminal Court (ICC) may soon issue arrest warrants against former Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde for their alleged involvement in the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.
According to ICC assistant to counsel Atty. Kristina Conti, Dela Rosa and Albayalde were among those named in ICC documents, alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The ICC has long been investigating three key figures—Rodrigo Duterte, Bato Dela Rosa, and Oscar Albayalde,” Conti said in an interview.
She added that three other former police officials could also face charges, though official ICC documents on them have yet to be released. Previous reports identified former CIDG chief Romeo Caramat Jr., former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and former PNP intelligence officer Eleazar Matta as possible subjects of investigation.
Dela Rosa and Albayalde’s Role in the Drug War
Dela Rosa, a staunch Duterte ally, led the PNP from July 2016 to April 2018, overseeing the nationwide anti-drug campaign. Despite accusations of extrajudicial killings, he has consistently defended the crackdown.
“Bring it on,” Dela Rosa said, insisting he was not afraid of the ICC and would challenge any warrant before the Supreme Court. However, he was unreachable for comment after Duterte’s arrest on March 12.
Albayalde, who succeeded Dela Rosa, denied any human rights violations, claiming that all police operations during his tenure were legal. His leadership, however, was tainted by the “ninja cops” scandal, where officers were accused of recycling seized illegal drugs. He resigned in October 2019 and is now running for mayor of Angeles City, Pampanga, in the 2025 elections.
Despite their denials, Conti believes that more evidence against Dela Rosa and Albayalde could emerge once Duterte’s trial begins.
“Once the trial is underway, additional information about their roles may come to light,” she said.
