Philippine Senator dela Rosa Urges Public to Block ICC Transfer

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, urged the public to prevent law enforcement from transferring him to the International Criminal Court (ICC), as reports of gunfire emerged from the Senate building in Pasay City, Manila.

Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, is accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity linked to the country’s “war on drugs” during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Dela Rosa, 64, has denied involvement in illegal killings.

The ICC case focuses on his period as police chief starting in June 2016, when he oversaw the national anti-drug campaign that authorities say led to thousands of deaths. Activists have said the toll was higher than official figures.

Dela Rosa was elected to the Senate in 2019 and re-elected in May 2025, after leaving the police force and entering politics.

Dela Rosa’s role in “Project Double Barrel”

Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police chief for 21 months from June 2016. During that period, he implemented “Project Double Barrel,” described as a nationwide anti-drug crackdown.

Police reported more than 2,000 deaths by the end of 2016, and the Philippine government has officially acknowledged 6,248 deaths related to the anti-drug campaign by the end of Duterte’s term in 2022.

Activists have argued the actual death toll was substantially higher, citing killings that occurred outside official police operations.

ICC allegations and earlier Duterte arrest

ICC documents have cited statements by dela Rosa during his tenure, including public vows to “crush” drug lords and warnings of “killings in the name of drugs,” as prosecutors built a case related to the wider anti-drug campaign.

Former President Duterte, who was in office from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in March 2025 on similar ICC accusations and transferred to The Hague, according to the source material. Duterte has also denied wrongdoing.

The Senate incident and dela Rosa’s call for public intervention heightened scrutiny of how Philippine authorities might respond to any potential ICC-related action involving the senator.

Officials have not publicly detailed next steps on any possible ICC transfer, and attention is likely to focus on whether Philippine law enforcement takes further action in the coming days.