(Philippines, 18th) The Philippines has requested the Supreme Court to allow the arrest of former Philippine National Police Chief Dela Rosa, so that he can be handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial.
According to AFP, Dela Rosa, who is also a senator, is suspected of committing crimes against humanity during former President Duterte's anti-drug campaign. On Monday (May 11), the International Criminal Court officially made public its arrest warrant for him.
Multiple gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate building on Wednesday night (13th), causing chaos and temporary lockdown at the scene.
Dela Rosa was seeking refuge inside the Senate to avoid being arrested by authorities and handed over to the ICC, and requested the Philippine Supreme Court to prevent law enforcement officers from taking action against him. He quietly left the Senate building afterwards and is currently missing.
On Saturday (16th), Philippine Attorney General Bebebe submitted a document to the court requesting it to dismiss Dela Rosa's petition, stating that Dela Rosa's own actions "have placed himself outside the protection of the law."
The document also stated: "Until he surrenders to the legal authorities, he must be treated as a fugitive and should not be allowed to seek any assistance from the court."
The Department of Justice said on Friday that the ICC arrest warrant would only be enforced after the Supreme Court has ruled on Dela Rosa's petition. Unless Dela Rosa attempts to flee abroad, the authorities will then detain him.
Dela Rosa has argued that since the Philippines withdrew from the ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, in 2019, the ICC's arrest warrant is illegal.
Bebebe, however, stated that withdrawal from the treaty "does not exempt member states from the obligation to cooperate in proceedings already initiated by the International Criminal Court."
Multiple gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate building on Wednesday night (13th), causing chaos and temporary lockdown at the scene.
Dela Rosa was seeking refuge inside the Senate to avoid being arrested by authorities and handed over to the ICC, and requested the Philippine Supreme Court to prevent law enforcement officers from taking action against him. He quietly left the Senate building afterwards and is currently missing.
On Saturday (16th), Philippine Attorney General Bebebe submitted a document to the court requesting it to dismiss Dela Rosa's petition, stating that Dela Rosa's own actions "have placed himself outside the protection of the law."
The document also stated: "Until he surrenders to the legal authorities, he must be treated as a fugitive and should not be allowed to seek any assistance from the court."
The Department of Justice said on Friday that the ICC arrest warrant would only be enforced after the Supreme Court has ruled on Dela Rosa's petition. Unless Dela Rosa attempts to flee abroad, the authorities will then detain him.
Dela Rosa has argued that since the Philippines withdrew from the ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, in 2019, the ICC's arrest warrant is illegal.
Bebebe, however, stated that withdrawal from the treaty "does not exempt member states from the obligation to cooperate in proceedings already initiated by the International Criminal Court."