Philippines puts bounty on Duterte’s fugitive drug-war enforcer

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 24, 2026

The Philippine government has offered a 50 million peso bounty for the capture of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who faces an ICC arrest warrant for alleged human rights abuses during the anti-drug campaign under former President Duterte. This action escalates the government’s push to hold key figures accountable ahead of Duterte’s upcoming ICC trial on crimes against humanity charges.

The Philippine government announced a bounty of 50 million pesos (approximately $786,000) for the capture of Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, a former police chief and current senator who was a key figure in the country’s controversial anti-drug campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte. The move comes nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa in November 2025, which was publicly unsealed in May 2026.

Dela Rosa has been largely in hiding since the warrant's public release. He briefly surfaced on May 11, seeking refuge within the Senate building, but left shortly after amid a confrontation involving security personnel and authorities attempting to detain him, during which shots were reportedly fired. The ICC named Dela Rosa as one of eight alleged co-perpetrators responsible for human rights abuses linked to the anti-drug operations carried out between 2016 and 2022, during Duterte’s presidency and his earlier tenure as mayor of a southern Philippine city.

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla described Dela Rosa as “armed and dangerous” and criticized his decision to evade arrest. “He has shown nothing but cowardice by going into and remaining in hiding,” Remulla said at a news conference, emphasizing the government’s resolve to ensure accountability for those implicated in the drug war’s abuses. “It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to bring justice to his victims,” he added.

The announcement precedes the scheduled trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is set to face charges at the ICC on November 30 related to crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, linked to the anti-drug crackdown.

Dela Rosa’s supporters have at times portrayed him as a law-and-order figure who contributed to efforts to curb illegal drugs, while human rights advocates and international bodies have condemned the campaign for alleged extrajudicial killings and widespread abuses. The government’s latest step to place a bounty marks an intensification of efforts to bring alleged perpetrators in the campaign to justice amid ongoing national and international scrutiny.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.