Former Philippine police chief faces ICC arrest warrant

Former Philippine national police chief and Senator Ronald dela Rosa is facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, The Guardian reported.

Dela Rosa, a close ally of Duterte, who has already been arrested by the ICC earlier this year, led the Philippine National Police during Duterte’s «war on drugs» from 2016 to 2022. The campaign drew international scrutiny over allegations of extrajudicial killings and excessive use of force. Philippine police say more than 6,000 people were killed in official anti-drug operations, while human rights groups estimate the total death toll could be significantly higher.

The ICC alleges that dela Rosa played a central role in implementing the campaign nationwide, including encouraging aggressive police tactics and fostering a climate of impunity. Both Duterte and dela Rosa deny the allegations against them.

The other country, which has been uprooting street gangs with an iron fist, is El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele’s government has detained tens of thousands of suspected gang members under emergency measures. Bukele’s policies remain popular domestically for reducing violent crime, though international rights groups have also raised concerns over due process and mass arrests.