Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Tuesday that any execution of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Senator Ronald Dela Rosa will adhere to established legal procedures, such as extradition and direct surrender mechanisms under Philippine law.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tua±o emphasized that the police will only act on lawful orders in coordination with relevant government agencies. "The PNP remains guided by existing laws and lawful directives in relation to the reported ICC warrant confirmation," Tua±o stated. He outlined that extradition proceedings would be handled through Philippine courts and the Department of Justice, while direct surrender could involve coordination with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, and the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC).
The NCB serves as Interpol's local branch in the Philippines, and the PCTC acts as the country's liaison to Interpol. "In the event that a court order is issued based on coordination through the NCB/PCTC and concerned authorities, the PNP will implement the appropriate contingency plans and necessary operational measures in accordance with due process and established protocols," Tua±o added, noting that the PNP has not yet received any order to arrest Dela Rosa.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. confirmed that the police organization has not received any official communication on the matter. "As such, the PNP is not in a position to issue further comment pending proper verification and coordination through the appropriate channels," Nartatez said, highlighting that police presence near the Senate is a preventative security measure amid protests by Dela Rosa supporters.
Southern Police District (SPD) Director Brig. Gen. Glenn Oliver Cinco assured that the police would exercise "maximum tolerance" toward protesters unless they become disruptive. About 343 SPD personnel, primarily from the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) unit, were deployed to secure the Senate building in Pasay City.
In a related development, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV presented what he claimed was a copy of the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa, leading to increased security around the Senate complex.
In a separate move, John Barry Tayam, a teacher from Las Pi±as, filed a petition with the Supreme Court to compel authorities to arrest Dela Rosa concerning the ICC warrant. The petition also challenges Senate Resolution No. 44, which aims to protect Filipinos from "extraordinary rendition" by the ICC. Tayam argued that no resolution should supersede the principle of equality before the law.
