Philippine senator vows to fight International Criminal Court order to arrest him over killings

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A Philippine senator said Tuesday he will fight any attempt to send him to the International Criminal Court for prosecution on an alleged crime against humanity, adding he never condoned extrajudicial killings when he led the country's police force.

On Monday, the global tribunal in The Hague unsealed an arrest warrant for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former national police chief who first enforced then- President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drugs crackdowns in which thousands of mostly petty suspects were killed.

Originally issued in November, the warrant charges dela Rosa with the crime against humanity of murder of “no less than 32 persons” between July 2016 and the end of April 2018 in the Philippines.

“If I have something to answer for, I will face those in our local courts and not before foreigners,” dela Rosa told reporters in the Senate, which took him into “protective custody” Monday when he reappeared after months of absence.

“I will avail of all legal processes,” he said, and pleaded to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.: “Don’t bring me to The Hague.”

After winning the presidency in 2016, Duterte designated dela Rosa, a loyal ally, as head of the national police force, which enforced the brutal campaign against illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa also once headed the police force in the southern city of Davao, where Duterte was a longtime mayor and built a political name for his extra tough approach to crimes.

“My role was to lead the war on drugs, and that war on drugs was not meant to annihilate people,” dela Rosa said when he was asked about the huge death toll.

“When the lives of police officers came under threat, of course they needed to defend themselves,” dela Rosa said.

Duterte’s six-year term ended in mid-2022. He was arrested last year and detained by the ICC in the Netherlands, where he is awaiting trial for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with several killings under his crackdowns.

Duterte withdrew the Philippines in 2019 from the ICC, in a move human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability. The court, however, said it retained jurisdiction over crimes committed when the Philippines was still a member.

Asked if the Philippines will enforce the ICC’s arrest warrant against dela Rosa, officials suggested they were ready and could surrender him to the global court’s jurisdiction like Duterte under a Philippine law enacted to address crimes against humanity like genocide.

“We have an obligation that all those who should be held to account should be held responsible,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a news briefing.

Dela Rosa cannot invoke a privilege of immunity from arrest while attending formal sessions or staying within the Senate because the crimes he allegedly committed were serious and punishable by a long prison term, Castro said.

Police have deployed nearly 350 law enforcers outside the Senate, sparking concerns from dela Rosa and allied senators, but officials said they were assigned to keep order and not to eventually help arrest the senator.

A supporter of former Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Vice President Sara Duterte gestures as they hold a rally outside the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Policemen secure the perimeter of the Philippine Senate as supporters of Senator Ronald dela Rosa and Vice President Sara Duterte hold rallies in Pasay, Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa becomes emotional while talking with other senators before the start of the session at the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa listens to reporters as he responds to questions about his unsealed ICC warrant of arrest at the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Philippine Senator Ronald dela Rosa speaks to reporters at the Philippine Senate in Pasay, Philippines on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

RAVENSBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 28, 2026--

Vetter, a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), continues to expand its commercial fill-and-finish network to further strengthen its global manufacturing operations and support the evolving needs of pharma and biotech customers. The company’s long-term investment program includes the addition of ten more commercial filling lines.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260928446750/en/

Seven of the ten planned manufacturing lines are being implemented across Vetter’s existing sites. This phased rollout will make additional manufacturing resources available over the coming years. The first new line, designed to fill pre-sterilized syringes, recently became operational, and a second line is expected to follow by the end of 2026. Another five lines for aseptic production are planned through 2028. Looking ahead, the final three lines are planned for Vetter’s new commercial site in Saarlouis, Germany, which is expected to become operational by 2031.

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About Vetter

Vetter is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with headquarters in Ravensburg, Germany, and production facilities in Germany, Austria, and the US. As a global player, the independent pharmaceutical service provider is also present in the Asia-Pacific markets of Japan, China, South Korea, and Singapore with sales locations. Around the world renowned pharma and biotech companies benefit from decades of experience, high quality, modern technologies, reliability, and commitment of its 7,400 employees. In close collaboration with its customers, the Vetter team helps enable the supply to patients all over the world with medicines, many of which are vital. The CDMO provides support from drug product development through clinical and commercial filling to a wide range of assembly and packaging services for vials, syringes, and cartridges. With innovative approaches, Vetter develops prefilled drug-delivery systems together with its customers to continuously improve patient safety, comfort, and compliance. Vetter takes responsibility for sustainable practices and operates as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. The CDMO is a member of the UN Global Compact and Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) and received platinum status in the renowned EcoVadis ranking. Multiple awards such as the CDMO Leadership Awards, Frost & Sullivan Customer Value Leadership Award and the recognition of Best Managed Company emphasize Vetter’s commitment to sustainable business. Founded in Ravensburg in 1950, the company remains family-owned to this day. For more information, visit www.vetter-pharma.com and follow Vetter on LinkedIn.

© Vetter Pharma International GmbH: The latest filling line at Vetter’s commercial facility in Langenargen, Germany