The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), part of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has issued a subpoena for Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa. The senator must appear for questioning regarding alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in Davao while he served as police chief.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed the subpoena, asserting that the investigation is an internal matter and not connected to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This development follows rumors of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC against Dela Rosa, although ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet clarified that no public arrest warrants have been released related to the Philippines.
Remulla indicated that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is prepared to deploy a task force of 10,000 personnel to apprehend Dela Rosa if necessary. The senator has not attended Senate sessions since November 10, 2025, amid speculation about his potential arrest.
Dela Rosa's tenure as police chief from 2016 to 2018 coincided with the controversial anti-drug campaign under former President Duterte, which has faced severe criticism for its high death toll.
The CIDG investigation is purely an internal matter and has nothing to do with the International Criminal Court. - Jonvic Remulla
Interior and Local Government Secretary
Human rights organizations estimate that between 12,000 and 30,000 individuals may have been killed during Duterte's war on drugs, a stark contrast to the government’s official figures.