Bato dela Rosa, Oscar Albayalde next on ICC arrest list?
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (L) and Gen. Oscar Albayalde. | PHOTOS: Senate PRIBE and INQ file photo by Jam Sta. Rosa
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and retired national police chief Oscar Albayalde could be the next to receive arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity over their roles in the previous administration’s bloody drug war.
“They could be,” said lawyer Kristina Conti, an ICC assistant to counsel, when asked by INQUIRER.net whether dela Rosa and Albayalde would be the next individuals to receive such warrants from the international tribunal.
No other details were provided regarding the matter as of this writing.
But in an interview on DZBB on Wednesday, Conti said three names were being looked into for their supposed role in the drug war.
READ: Duterte admits responsibility as ICC detains him
“There are three names mentioned in the ICC documents. These are Duterte, dela Rosa and Albayalde. There are three additional names of police officers who are allegedly involved as well, but the documents pertaining to them are still unofficial,” Conti said.
“I am expecting that once the trial against Duterte begins, more evidence will come out on the extent of Dela Rosa and Albayalde’s participation,” she added.
Dela Rosa served as the first Philippine National Police chief of the Duterte administration. He coined the term Oplan Tokhang (knock and plead) and led the bloody drug war.
READ: No Interpol red notice yet for Dela Rosa, Albayalde – Palace
After retiring from his post, dela Rosa was succeeded by Albayalde, who was then tasked with continuing the controversial campaign against illegal drugs.
The role landed them on the roster of Duterte administration officials who were accused of crimes against humanity by the families of drug war victims before the ICC.
On the other hand, the Palace said it had not received official communication regarding any International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice alert for Albayalde and dela Rosa.
