Subpoena pending: CIDG to compel Dela Rosa to appear in killings probe

MANILA, Philippines — Police investigators will subpoena Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to appear in a probe into drug war killings, with the government moving to pressure the former police chief to show up after a weekend rumor about an arrest warrant.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Sunday, May 10, that the subpoena of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group would be issued Monday and personally served on Dela Rosa.

"I repeat, this is not an arrest warrant but a subpoena for the senator and former chief of the PNP," Remulla said at a news briefing at Camp Crame.

Remulla said the investigation was "purely an internal matter" and not connected to the International Criminal Court, which is handling the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte over his administration's drug war.

"We are not a member of the ICC, we are not working with the ICC," Remulla said. "This is purely an internal matter that we are doing."

Dela Rosa served as former president Rodrigo Duterte's chief of police, carrying out widespread campaign against drugs. The "war," however, led to executions of thousands of suspects in police raids before there were formal cases against them.

Subpoena, not arrest

The subpoena has so far been the government's most direct move to compel Dela Rosa—who has been absent at the Senate since November last year—to appear before domestic investigators. This comes after months of reports and speculation over his possible exposure to international proceedings.

Remulla said the subpoena would cover "100 plus" extrajudicial killing cases during Dela Rosa's time as Davao City police director and regional police director.

"It's all related to the 100 plus of EJKs that occurred during his term as city director and regional director of Davao," he said.

Remulla said Dela Rosa "will be the first one" to be summoned, with other subpoenas to follow for those named in previous complaints.

"We have to make it clear that EJK is no longer a policy of the PNP. We have to make it clear that all officers involved must be held accountable," he said.

Remulla said police will treat Dela Rosa with respect if he appears before investigators.

"I assure you there will be no EJK. We will treat him with all respect. There will be no handcuffs. It is merely a subpoena for investigation, not an arrest warrant," he said.

Arrest rumor and police alert

The announcement came a day after reports circulated that the ICC had supposedly issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa.

The ICC said Saturday that "no public arrest warrants have been issued in relation to the situation in the Philippines," responding to queries on whether it had issued a warrant for Dela Rosa. 

Remulla likewise said Saturday that he had not received any report or copy of an alleged ICC arrest warrant, describing the information as unverified. — with reports by Ian Laqui