International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against former Philippine police chief for crimes against humanity
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday made public an arrest warrant against former Philippine National Police chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the anti-drug campaign promoted by former President Rodrigo Duterte. The Pre-Trial Chamber I found that there are "reasonable grounds to believe" that dela Rosa is responsible, as an "indirect co-perpetrator" of the crime against humanity of murder, in relation to killings that occurred between July 2016 and April 2018 in the Philippines. The judicial decision, made confidentially on November 6, indicated that at least 32 people were murdered during operations attributed to Philippine security forces, in some cases with the support of hitmen and civilian collaborators, and the victims were alleged criminals or individuals supposedly linked to drug trafficking and consumption.
TL;DR
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, former chief of the Philippine National Police.
- Dela Rosa is accused of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, during the anti-drug campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
- The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I found reasonable grounds to believe Dela Rosa is an indirect co-perpetrator of killings that occurred between July 2016 and April 2018.
- At least 32 people were allegedly murdered during operations attributed to Philippine security forces.
- Dela Rosa is accused of contributing to the plan through public statements that authorized or promoted killings and by deploying police resources.
- The ICC investigation covers alleged crimes committed in the Philippines between November 2011 and March 2019.