Police investigative arm eyes summons for dela Rosa

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government on Sunday said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) would issue a subpoena to Senator Ronald M. dela Rosa as part of an investigation linked to reports of a possible International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

“The CIDG will issue a subpoena tomorrow to General dela Rosa to appear personally before the CIDG in aid of investigation of his previous crimes,” Interior Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla told a news briefing on Sunday.

Mr. dela Rosa’s media staff did not immediately reply to a text message seeking comment.

Mr. Remulla said the summons is not an arrest warrant, adding that a previously organized task force linked to reports of a possible manhunt had been dismantled.

“What we do have for him is a subpoena, not a manhunt,” he said.

He added that authorities have yet to receive credible information about any pending arrest warrant or red notice from the ICC or the International Criminal Police Organization.

The statement came after online reports circulated on Saturday claiming that the ICC had issued a warrant against Mr. dela Rosa, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s national police chief who enforced his war on drugs.

Mr. Duterte is now on trial by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with his anti-narcotics drive.

Mr. Remulla also confirmed that the senator remains in the Philippines and is staying in the Davao region.

He said Police Regional Office XI had been informed about the subpoena expected to be served on Monday.

“This investigation was triggered again by the rumors of the impending red notice, and we are continuing the path ourselves to continue the investigation of these matters,” Mr. Remulla said.

“I will repeat: We are not a member of the ICC, we are not working with the ICC,” he said. “These are purely internal matters that we are doing.”

Mr. dela Rosa was named by the ICC as among the co-perpetrators in Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

The senator served as Davao City police chief from January 2012 to October 2013 before becoming Philippine National Police chief from July 2016 to April 2018 under the Duterte administration.

He has largely been absent from Senate sessions since late last year after reports first emerged about a possible ICC warrant.

Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go was also identified by the ICC among people linked to the drug war operations.

Mr. dela Rosa is separately facing an ethics complaint over his prolonged absence from the Senate. Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, who heads the Ethics committee, earlier urged him to waive his salary and allowances while absent. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel