Topic analysis

Philippines orders arrest of senator over ICC 'war on drugs' charges

The Philippine government ordered law enforcement agencies to arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Thursday, following the Supreme Court's rejection of his bid for a temporary restraining order, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) unsealed an arrest warrant charging him with crimes against humanity for his role as former president Rodrigo Duterte’s top enforcer in the deadly "war on drugs" campaign. Dela Rosa, who had been sheltering in his Senate office, denied involvement in unlawful killings; his whereabouts are unknown after a night of chaos and gunfire at the Senate when armed troops entered the building, and he had urged supporters to block his transfer to The Hague.