"We'll Cross That Bridge": PNP Chief's Chilling Words on Bato Dela Rosa's Looming ICC Arrest

 




A storm is brewing. Just as the dust settled from the arrest warrant issued against former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), a new wave of fear and uncertainty is washing over the Philippines. The chilling words of the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Nicolas Torre III, regarding the potential ICC arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa have sent shivers down the spines of many: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

This seemingly nonchalant response, delivered at a recent press briefing after his assumption of command, speaks volumes. It hints at a preparedness, a quiet acknowledgment that the ICC’s gaze has firmly locked onto Dela Rosa, the architect of the controversial “Oplan Tokhang,” Duterte's bloody war on drugs.




Remember the sheer scale of it? An estimated thousands perished under the banner of this campaign. Now, the ICC, through the words of assistant to counsel Kristina Conti, signals that Dela Rosa and his successor as PNP chief, Oscar Albayalde, could be next in line to face justice for alleged crimes against humanity. "They could be," Conti stated ominously when asked about potential warrants for the two former top cops. She further revealed in a radio interview that alongside Duterte, Dela Rosa and Albayalde are the "three names mentioned in the ICC documents."

For families of the victims, whose whispers of grief have slowly grown into a roar demanding accountability, this news offers a sliver of hope. Dela Rosa, who himself coined the chilling term "Oplan Tokhang" (knock and plead), now faces the potential of being held accountable for the very operations he spearheaded. Albayalde, who continued the campaign after him, also finds himself in the ICC's crosshairs.

While the Palace maintains it has not received any official communication regarding Interpol red notices for Dela Rosa and Albayalde, the PNP's guarded response suggests they are far from unaware of the looming threat. Torre himself was the ground commander in the highly significant arrest and handover of former President Duterte to the ICC – a detail that adds a layer of gravity to his recent statement.

The question isn't if the bridge will be reached, but when. And as the ICC continues its investigation, the nation holds its breath, waiting to see if the architects of the drug war will finally face the consequences on the international stage.


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