On 11 May 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") unsealed an arrest warrant for Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa, which had originally been issued as secret on 6 November 2025.
Mr Dela Rosa, a national of the Republic of the Philippines, born on 21 January 1962, in Barangay Bato, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur (Republic of the Philippines), is alleged to have committed the crime against humanity of murder (article 7(1)(a) of the Rome Statute), at least between 3 July 2016 and the end of April 2018, during which no less than 32 persons were killed, in the Republic of the Philippines.
The Chamber, composed of Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc and Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera, assessed the material submitted by the Prosecution and found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Dela Rosa is allegedly criminally responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator (pursuant to article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute) for the crime against humanity of murder.
Mr Dela Rosa is alleged to have been involved in a common plan that lasted from approximately 1 November 2011 until 16 March 2019 to kill alleged criminals in the Philippines (including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production). During that period, Mr Dela Rosa was a police officer for more than 30 years and held: (i) various positions in the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Davao region until 30 June 2016, including as City Director of the Davao City Police Office from 1 February 2012 to 17 October 2013, and in the PNP Intelligence Group and Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development; (i) the position of Chief of the PNP, from 1 July 2016 to 19 April 2018; and (ii) the position of Director General of the Bureau of Corrections from 30 April to 12 October 2018.
Warrant of Arrest for Mr Ronald Marapon Dela Rosa
Background: On 15 September 2021, Pre-Trial Chamber I authorised the Prosecutor to commence an investigation in relation to crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court allegedly committed on the territory of the Republic of the Philippines between 1 November 2011 and 16 March 2019 in the context of the so-called 'war on drugs' campaign. This authorisation followed the Prosecutor's request to open an investigation, initially submitted on 24 May 2021 and filed in public redacted version on 14 June 2021. The Chamber also received views on this request submitted by or on behalf of victims.
Further information on this situation is available here.
