Amid the sound of gunfire rattling through the Senate building on Wednesday evening, Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa appealed to the public to prevent law enforcement agents from surrendering him to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Dela Rosa faces ICC accusations of crimes against humanity, stemming from his oversight of the war on drugs during his tenure as police chief under then-President Rodrigo Duterte. The 64-year-old senator denies any involvement in unlawful killings.
Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was himself arrested and transported to The Hague in March 2025. This was based on a warrant connecting him to murders committed during the violent campaign, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of alleged drug peddlers and users. He also asserts his innocence.
Upon assuming the presidency in June 2016, Duterte appointed dela Rosa, his former Davao City police chief, to lead the Philippine National Police (PNP). Dela Rosa held this position for 21 months, during which Duterte granted him extensive authority to implement Davao’s crime-fighting strategies across the nation. At the time, dela Rosa, widely known as “Bato” or “Rock,” stated, “He is leaving everything up to me.”
On his inaugural day as PNP chief, dela Rosa launched a directive initiating a nationwide crackdown on illegal drugs, fulfilling a key campaign promise made by Duterte. This program, dubbed Project Double Barrel, mirrored Davao City’s policing approach and sought the “neutralisation of illegal drug personalities nationwide.” Its implementation led to a significant increase in killings. Between Duterte’s inauguration on June 30 and the end of that year, police documented over 2,000 deaths, primarily attributed to shoot-outs.
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