The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) announced on Friday, May 22, 2026, that it will execute the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald dela Rosa after the Supreme Court denied his petition to halt its enforcement.
NBI Director Confirms Arrest
NBI Director Melvin Matibag stated that the agency would comply with Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida’s directive to serve the warrant “without delay.” He emphasized that the arrest would be conducted professionally and in accordance with established procedures.
“The order is to arrest Senator Dela Rosa, so we’ll do so without delay,” Matibag said in a statement. “Fugitive Senator Dela Rosa will be arrested whether he likes it or not because we have to implement the law without fear or favor.”
Background of the Warrant
The ICC issued the arrest warrant in connection with crimes against humanity allegations linked to the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs. Dela Rosa had previously sought a temporary restraining order or status quo ante order from the Supreme Court to block the warrant’s enforcement in the Philippines. The high court rejected his plea on Wednesday with a 9-5-1 vote.
“That’s why we are effecting the arrest in the absence of a TRO from the Supreme Court,” Matibag explained.
Cooperation with Investigations
Matibag also confirmed that the NBI would fully cooperate with a Department of Justice fact-finding panel investigating the agency’s attempt to serve the warrant on Dela Rosa on May 11 and the subsequent Senate shooting incident on May 13. The NBI has responded positively to a request from the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), providing sworn statements from NBI personnel deployed at the Government Service Insurance System premises on the night of May 13. Additionally, the NBI granted the CIDG access to video recordings, radio communications, and other materials related to its operations from May 11 to 13.
