Philippines Offers $800K Bounty for Senator Wanted by ICC
Senator Ronald dela Rosa is sought for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with former President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly anti-drug crackdowns.
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine officials announced a bounty of 50 million pesos, approximately $800,000, on Friday for the capture of Senator Ronald dela Rosa. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant for his arrest, alleging his involvement as an "indirect co-conspirator" in crimes against humanity related to former President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign.
Dela Rosa, 64, was the national police chief appointed by Duterte to enforce the crackdowns that began after Duterte became president in 2016. Following his retirement from the police force, dela Rosa held a position in prisons administration before being elected to the Senate in 2019.
The ICC's investigation into the drug war killings spans from 2011 to 2019. While official police reports indicate over 6,000 deaths during Duterte's term, human rights groups estimate the toll to be as high as 30,000. Both Duterte and dela Rosa have denied authorizing extrajudicial killings.
The ICC warrant, initially kept confidential last November, charges dela Rosa with murder for the deaths of at least 32 individuals between July 2016 and April 2018.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated at a televised news conference that authorities are monitoring dela Rosa in the southern part of the country and are negotiating for his peaceful surrender. Remulla criticized the senator for remaining in hiding, calling it "cowardice" and asserting, "It's time for the gloves to come off. It's time to render justice to his victims."
A police task force has been formed to lead the manhunt, and dela Rosa is now considered "armed and dangerous." Philippine officials have indicated they would hand him over to the ICC if captured.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested last year on an ICC warrant and is scheduled to face trial in The Hague on November 30. Dela Rosa's last public appearance was briefly in the Philippine Senate in May, after which he went into hiding following the public release of the arrest warrant.