A pursuit in the senate, gunfire, now on the run: why is a former Philippines police chief in hiding?

Dela Rosa, a Philippine senator and former head of the national police, became known for enforcing Duterte’s war on drugs. He cultivated a tough-talking public image and made violent threats toward drug dealers. His ties with Duterte began in Davao, where dela Rosa served as city police chief and Duterte held the mayoralty for more than two decades. In Davao, Duterte’s approach included the Davao Death Squad, described by ICC prosecutors as a group tasked with killing alleged criminals, including drug dealers. Dela Rosa is accused of helping recruit individuals and directing the group. As national police chief, he implemented the drug war, vowing to crush drug lords. Official police figures report more than 6,000 deaths, while activists estimate far higher totals. After leaving the police, he led the Bureau of Corrections and won senate terms in 2019 and 2025. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity tied to his role.

"Dela Rosa, 64, is a Philippine senator and former head of national police, who is known for his role as the chief enforcer of former president Rodrigo Duterte's so-called war on drugs. Known by the nickname Bato, which translates as rock, he is a celebrity-like figure in the Philippines, where he cultivated a tough-talking image, often making violent threats against drug dealers. His close ties with Duterte date back to their shared roots in Davao, in Mindanao, southern Philippines, where dela Rosa served as city police chief from 2012-13 and Duterte was mayor for more than 20 years cumulatively."

"It was in Davao that Duterte first rolled out his ruthless approach to law enforcement and established the Davao Death Squad (DDS), a group of police officers and non-police hitmen whose task was to kill alleged criminals, including drug dealers, according to International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors. Dela Rosa is accused of helping to recruit individuals and direct the group. In this 2018 photo, Duterte holds an Israeli-made Galil rifle, presented to him by dela Rosa."

"When Duterte was elected president in 2016, he appointed dela Rosa head of Philippine national police to implement his war on drugs on a national scale. Dela Rosa vowed to crush drug lords, and once told crowds of surrendering drug users they could kill drug lords. Pour gasoline on their houses and burn them. Show your anger, he said. Police say more than 6,000 suspects were killed in official anti-drug operations during Duterte's presidency. Activists say the real death toll may never be known, with some estimates suggesting as many as 30,000 may have been killed."

"After leaving the police force, dela Rosa was appointed the director general of Bureau of Corrections, before successfully running for the senate in 2019. He won a second senatorial term in May 2025. The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for dela Rosa for alleged crimes against humanity for his role in Duterte's wa"

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