Philippine Supreme Court says won't stop ICC arrest of drug war enforcer

The Philippine Supreme Court refused on Wednesday (May 20) to block the arrest of a fugitive senator wanted by the International Criminal Court over his role in the nation's deadly drug war.



The interim ruling clears the way for the potential arrest of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who was the chief enforcer of ex-president Rodrigo Duterte's crackdown.



"The Supreme Court, in a vote of 9-5-1, denied the prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or status quo ante order filed by Senator Ronald "Bato" M Dela Rosa," a court statement said.



The ICC last week unsealed an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, accused along with Duterte and other "co-perpetrators" of the crime against humanity of murder.