MANILA, Philippines — The copy of a warrant of arrest allegedly from the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa obtained by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla came from a third source, his brother Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.
“He told me he got the electronic copy from a third source,” Remulla told radio dzBB. He did not give other details about the warrant’s source.
Remulla has not seen a copy of the warrant, saying he has yet to talk with his brother personally.
This is the reason why the Philippine National Police could still not act as the supposed warrant did not originate from proper channels.
Dela Rosa has yet to surface after news about the ICC warrant against him was made public by the ombudsman.
Meanwhile, the ICC has adopted new rules concerning the classification of requests for arrest warrants or summons against individuals facing investigations or charges.
Under the amended rules, which took effect this week, all applications for arrest warrants or summons to appear “are to be classified as secret or under seal, unless otherwise authorized by a Chamber.”
Kristina Conti, an accredited ICC assistant to counsel, earlier said arrest warrants are disclosed publicly when it can help stop the commission of crimes or assist in the arrest of the person subjected in the warrant, such as in the case of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. – Janvic Mateo, Pia Lee-Brago