• Philippine government lawyers have requested the Supreme Court to deny Senator Dela Rosa's attempt to block his ICC arrest.
• Dela Rosa faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration's drug war.
• The senator argues that the ICC lost jurisdiction after the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.

The Philippines has formally asked its Supreme Court to permit the arrest of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, a key figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial anti-drug campaign, as he faces charges of "crimes against humanity" from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The government contends that Dela Rosa's actions render him a fugitive from justice, as he has tried to evade lawful authorities. The Solicitor General asserted that Dela Rosa's conduct disqualifies him from seeking any relief from the law until he submits to authorities, arguing that his behavior during this legal battle undermines his claims of protection, according to Channel News Asia.

Lawyers representing the Philippine government have reinforced their stance, urging the Supreme Court to reject Dela Rosa's plea to prevent his arrest. They noted that the senator's flight and prior efforts to evade arrest illustrate a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability for his alleged involvement in the deadly drug crackdown. Furthermore, they emphasized that under domestic law, namely Republic Act 9851, the Philippines remains obligated to enforce ICC warrants, irrespective of the country's withdrawal from the Rome Statute, as indicated by reports from Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Senator Dela Rosa, who served as national police chief during the drug war, argues that the ICC should not have jurisdiction over him due to the Philippines' exit from the Rome Statute in 2019. He maintains that the ICC warrant is invalid, stating, "the Philippines is no longer a party to the treaty." However, the Office of the Solicitor General argues that the law compels cooperation on ongoing international criminal proceedings, suggesting that Dela Rosa’s flight from the Senate exemplifies a rejection of accountability, as highlighted in communications from Channel News Asia, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.