U.S. Launches Campaign Against ICC; Philippines Offers P50 Million Bounty for Dela Rosa

U.S. Launches Campaign Against ICC; Philippines Offers P50 Million Bounty for Dela Rosa

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | October 28, 2026

WASHINGTON D.C. / MANILA, Philippines – In a dramatic schism of international legal and diplomatic tensions, the United States has initiated an unprecedented “whole-of-government” campaign to dismantle the perceived threat of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to U.S. sovereignty. 

This aggressive stance from Washington, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on July 13, 2026, directly contrasts with a simultaneous, assertive move by the Philippine government, which has issued a P50 million bounty for the capture of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to enforce an ICC arrest warrant against him.

These developments highlight a widening chasm in international legal approaches, with the U.S. outright rejecting the ICC’s authority while the Philippines, despite having previously withdrawn from the Rome Statute, is now actively pursuing an ICC-issued warrant against a sitting senator.

U.S. Declares War on ICC, Citing Sovereignty Threat

Secretary Rubio unveiled a robust diplomatic and punitive strategy aimed at “neutralizing” the ICC’s operational capacity, specifically its ability to target American personnel or officials. Characterizing the ICC as an “intolerable threat” to U.S. sovereignty, the State Department asserts that the court’s claims to prosecute U.S. servicemen and officials acting in the national interest are fundamentally unacceptable. This diplomatic offensive follows the ICC’s persistent refusal to close investigations into U.S. military and intelligence personnel.

“The ICC now seeks to establish itself as an unaccountable global arbiter,” Secretary Rubio declared, accusing the court of positioning itself “above nation-states as a supranational enforcement body empowered to persecute American personnel at will.”

The comprehensive U.S. strategy encompasses a range of actions designed to ensure the ICC cannot compromise U.S. sovereignty or target Americans. Potential measures include:

• Intensified Diplomatic Engagement: Senior U.S. officials will directly engage foreign nations, urging withdrawal from the Rome Statute and highlighting alleged ICC abuses and risks to sovereign interests.  
• Partnership Mandate: Nations benefiting from U.S. law enforcement and military partnerships are called upon to explicitly reject the ICC’s claimed authority over U.S. officials and service members.  
• Increased Scrutiny: The U.S. will impose increased scrutiny on nations that refuse to disavow the ICC’s authority while receiving U.S. assistance.  
• Allied Diplomatic Mobilization: The U.S. will urge non-signatory nations to the Rome Statute to leverage their diplomatic networks in concert with the United States.  
• Sanctions and Travel Restrictions: Actions under consideration include visa revocations and travel bans for ICC personnel, alongside expanded sanctions against the ICC and its affiliated organizations.

Secretary Rubio’s video message detailing this initiative is available on the Department of State’s official YouTube channel, marking a new, aggressive chapter in the U.S.’s long-standing opposition to the ICC’s jurisdiction.

Philippines Offers P50 Million Bounty for Senator Dela Rosa, Vows “No Mercy” Hunt

While Washington moves to undermine the ICC, the Philippine government, under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration, has taken an extraordinary step to enforce an ICC arrest warrant. 

A P50 million bounty has been declared for information leading to the capture of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, branding him “armed and dangerous” and the nation’s most wanted fugitive.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, in a stark press briefing, announced that the “gloves are off” after failed negotiation attempts, giving Dela Rosa one week to surrender following an ICC arrest warrant issued in November 2025. Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief and architect of the previous administration’s controversial “war on drugs,” is implicated as a co-conspirator in crimes against humanity before the ICC, alongside former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“Senator Bato mistook my gesture of negotiation as a sign of weakness. It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to bring justice to his victims,” Remulla stated, criticizing Dela Rosa’s evasion.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. affirmed ongoing law enforcement operations, utilizing tactical teams and intelligence operatives to locate the senator. He warned those harboring Dela Rosa that they face criminal charges. Reports suggest Dela Rosa is being protected by a powerful armed group in a secluded area of Mindanao, prompting Remulla to express caution about a forceful arrest, citing potential for a “bloodbath similar to the siege of Marawi in 2017.” Nartatez, however, assured contingency measures are in place, emphasizing a “calibrated” approach.

Palace Defends Bounty Amid Legal Challenge

The Malacañang Palace has vehemently defended the P50 million bounty, vowing a “no mercy” hunt for the former national police chief. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed legal challenges from Dela Rosa’s counsel, Israelito Torreon, who argues the bounty is illegal as it supports an arrest warrant not issued by a domestic court.

“That is precisely the job of a lawyer – to dilute the issue in favor of their client,” Castro stated. “Therefore, if funds are expended to apprehend their client, it falls outside their purview.”

Castro unequivocally affirmed the validity and enforceability of the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa. “The best advice we can offer his client is to surrender, thereby avoiding further government expenditure. Had he not been concealed or aided in his escape, Senator Bato would already be at the ICC.”

The Palace urged Dela Rosa’s camp to cease their defiance, reiterating that the DILG and PNP are spearheading the relentless pursuit. “He once served as the PNP Chief,” Castro emphasized. “He should not set an example, nor should he serve as a model for individuals facing an arrest warrant who choose to hide… He must not become an idol for other fugitives seeking to evade justice.”

The substantial bounty, sourced from the DILG’s intelligence and confidential funds, was defended as a necessary operational expense. Castro sharply differentiated these funds from those for El Niño response, asserting that “The matter of El Niño is distinct from the imperative to apprehend those who must be brought to justice. It is not permissible to conflate funds designated for mitigating El Niño with those allocated for crime suppression and the pursuit of accountability.”

These divergent actions by two significant global actors underscore a critical juncture in international law and sovereignty debates, raising profound questions about the future of global justice and the enforcement of international mandates.

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