The Philippine Supreme Court has refused to block the arrest of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who served as the chief enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug crackdown.
In a 9-5-1 vote, the court denied Dela Rosa's request for a temporary restraining order, clearing the way for his potential surrender to the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity for murder.
The ICC last week unsealed an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa, accusing him alongside Duterte and others. Government agents had attempted to arrest him the same day, but pro-Duterte senate leadership thwarted the effort, granting him sanctuary. Dela Rosa later fled to an unknown location after a shooting incident between agents and senate security.
Duterte was arrested last year and is now awaiting trial at the ICC in The Hague.
President Ferdinand Marcos's spokeswoman stated the arrest warrant is valid against Dela Rosa, though it remains unclear if Manila will now enforce it. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida will interpret and evaluate the ruling.