The International Criminal Court (ICC) may issue an arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa at any time, according to ICC-accredited lawyer Kristina Conti. While this is happening, the court is still awaiting the results of a medical examination of former President Rodrigo Duterte to determine whether he is still fit to stand trial.
The hearing for confirmation of charges against Duterte, which was supposed to be on September 23, has been delayed. Because of this, health experts are now studying whether he is truly unfit to stand trial. Tests have been submitted, including a report from a psychiatrist.
Conti mentioned that Bato Dela Rosa's name was included in the case documents. As former PNP chief, he led the drug war which was included in the allegations of crimes against humanity that were the basis for Duterte's arrest on March 11 in The Hague.
Conti added that eight other individuals were included in the draft charges—including several police officers, an official, and some close allies. However, he said that it would be difficult to immediately arrest Dela Rosa because he is a current senator and that law enforcement agencies like the PNP and NBI might have second thoughts.
If all the reviews are in order, Duterte's hearing could continue in January or February 2026. But the lawyer clarified that this hearing is just the beginning of discussing the cases and not the actual trial.
