MANILA — Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Tuesday said he would seek clarification from the Supreme Court on whether the International Criminal Court still has jurisdiction over the Philippines if the Hague-based tribunal issues a warrant of arrest against him.

"I have to seek judicial relief. We have to go to the Supreme Court," Dela Rosa told ANC's "Headstart," saying there is "no problem" if the high court rules the nation is still under the ICC's jurisdiction. But he said the government should respect the Supreme Court if it rules otherwise.

"We have to observe that. Otherwise, wala nang mangyari sa ating bansa. Kung ano'ng gusto nila ang masusunod," he said.

"I am not afraid for myself. I have been to many wars already ang dami ko nang dinaanang giyera hindi ako takot mamatay," Dela Rosa said about a possible ICC warrant of arrest for him. "Takot lang ako para sa mga apo ko na hindi nila ako makita."

ICC launches witness appeal on Duterte's war on drugs

Dela Rosa is among the subjects of the ICC investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-illegal drugs campaign for possible crimes against humanity.

The senator, a former national police chief of ex-President Duterte, was the "chief architect" of the war on drugs that left thousands of drug personalities, mostly poor, dead in police operations. 

Dela Rosa has denied alleged violations and corruption committed during the implementation of the crackdown.

The government has taken the position that it will not cooperate with the ICC, which the Philippines left in 2019 because of its preliminary inquiry into the controversial anti-drug crackdown accused of human rights violations.

According to the ICC, while the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute that created the tribunal took effect in March 2019, the court "retains jurisdiction with respect to alleged crimes that occurred on the territory of the Philippines while it was a State Party, from 1 November 2011 up to and including 16 March 2019."

Observers have said that the ICC may issue an arrest warrant for Duterte before the year ends. If that happens, it could signal the beginning of the trial.

Malacañang has said that the Philippines will cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) if it issues a red notice against Duterte in relation to the ICC's inquiry into his drug war.

Duterte tells ICC to 'hurry up' with probe: 'Baka mamatay na ako'