The Philippine government says it hasn't received any formal notice about an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Senator Bong Go and two police officers — despite claims from a Duterte congressman that warrants are already out.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Wednesday that he has yet to see any official document from the ICC regarding the reported warrants. He told the Inquirer in a text message, "Just talked to SoJ (Secretary of Justice Fredderick […]". The rest of his message was cut off, but his point was clear: nothing formal has arrived.

The claim came from Davao City Representative Pulong Duterte, who said a "highly reliable source" told him that ICC warrants had been issued for Go and two unnamed police officers. Pulong is the son of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose own war on drugs is the subject of the ICC investigation.

Senator Bong Go was a longtime aide to the elder Duterte and served as his special assistant before winning a Senate seat in 2019. He's been a vocal defender of the drug war. The two police officers' identities haven't been disclosed.

The ICC is investigating crimes against humanity allegedly committed during Duterte's drug war, which left thousands dead according to human rights groups. The Philippine government withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but the court says it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member — from 2011 to 2019.

So what happens next? If the ICC has indeed issued warrants, the Philippine government would typically receive a formal request through diplomatic channels. The Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs would then process it. But without an official notice, Remulla says there's nothing to act on yet.

For now, it's a he-said-she-said situation: Pulong Duterte says warrants exist; the government says it hasn't seen them. The National Bureau of Investigation chief earlier hinted that more ICC arrest warrants could be issued within a month, adding to the uncertainty.

  • Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla says no formal ICC warrant notice received for Sen. Bong Go and two police officers
  • Davao City Rep. Pulong Duterte claims warrants have been issued, citing a "highly reliable source"
  • The ICC is investigating crimes against humanity during Duterte's drug war
  • Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019, but ICC claims jurisdiction over 2011-2019 period
  • NBI chief says more ICC arrest warrants may be issued within a month