THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A dramatic confrontation unfolded Wednesday at the Philippine Senate building, complete with gunshots and a tense standoff, as authorities attempted to arrest a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court on murder charges related to crimes against humanity.
The chaotic scenes in Manila occurred just two days after the Netherlands-based court made public an arrest warrant targeting Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, who previously headed the national police under ex-President Rodrigo Duterte and played a key role in implementing the controversial anti-drug operations that resulted in thousands of deaths among suspected low-level offenders.
The November-issued warrant accuses dela Rosa of committing murder as a crime against humanity, specifically alleging he was responsible for killing at least 32 individuals during his tenure as police commander from July 2016 through late April 2018.
The 64-year-old dela Rosa has declared his intention to challenge the ICC arrest warrant and indicated he plans to pursue every available legal option to fight the charges.
Officials from the ICC have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the Manila incident.
The Philippines withdrew from the international court in 2019 following a United Nations notification, a move that came after former ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced her decision to launch a preliminary investigation into claims of extrajudicial executions during Duterte’s drug war.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022 after Duterte, the Philippines has not returned to ICC membership. However, the current administration has indicated it would provide assistance if the ICC requested international law enforcement to apprehend Duterte through what’s known as a red notice — essentially a global alert asking police agencies worldwide to find and provisionally detain a suspect. Officials have not confirmed whether such a notice has been issued for dela Rosa.
Duterte himself was taken into custody last year and transported to The Hague to face crimes against humanity charges connected to the lethal drug enforcement campaign. He continues to be held there while awaiting his trial proceedings.
Court judges previously dismissed an attempt by Duterte’s attorneys to have the case dismissed based on claims that the court lacked authority since the Philippines had left the organization. The court determined that nations cannot “misuse” their withdrawal rights from the Rome Statute “to protect individuals from accountability for alleged crimes already being examined,” according to the judicial decision.
Established in 2002, the international court’s mission focuses on prosecuting leaders and high-ranking officials for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. While 125 nations participate as members, three significant world powers — the United States, Russia, and China — remain outside the organization. Ukraine became an official member in January 2025.
The court employs over 900 personnel and operates on an annual budget exceeding 196 million euros, equivalent to approximately $229 million.
The ICC functions as a final judicial option, intervening only when national court systems prove incapable or unwilling to pursue legal action against suspects.
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on chief prosecutor Karim Khan, several ICC judges, and Khan’s two assistant prosecutors. Trump has criticized the court for what he calls “illegitimate and baseless actions” directed at America and Israel.
During his previous presidency, Trump also sanctioned Khan’s predecessor, Fatou Bensouda. The Biden administration later removed those sanctions.
Russia similarly rejects the court’s jurisdiction and has issued arrest warrants for Khan and the ICC judge who authorized President Vladimir Putin’s warrant.
Since his 2023 arrest warrant was issued, Putin has continued international travel, including visits to ICC member nation Mongolia, as well as trips to China and North Korea, neither of which belongs to the court.
