MANILA (May 12) — The Philippine government has taken what officials described as a major first step in reopening investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte-era drug war, with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group serving a subpoena on Sen. Ronald dela Rosa over killings that allegedly occurred during his time as Davao City police chief.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed Monday that dela Rosa was ordered to appear before CIDG investigators on May 14 at Camp Crame in Quezon City to answer questions tied to alleged extrajudicial killings in the Davao region.
The subpoena, signed by CIDG chief Major General Robert Morico II, was served at both dela Rosa’s Senate office and residence.
Dela Rosa headed the Davao City police from January 2012 to October 2013 before later becoming Philippine National Police chief under former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose anti-drug campaign remains under intense scrutiny locally and internationally.
Reading portions of the subpoena during a press briefing in Valenzuela City, Remulla said dela Rosa was directed to “clarify matters, execute a sworn affidavit, submit documents and other relevant information” related to the ongoing investigation.
Remulla warned that ignoring the subpoena without valid justification could trigger indirect contempt charges under Philippine law.
“This is the first step in investigating EJKs,” Remulla said, adding that investigators have encountered difficulties obtaining records tied to drug war deaths.
“For example, in Bulacan, they erased all records. The causes of death — they erased them,” he claimed.
The development adds to mounting pressure on Duterte allies as legal scrutiny surrounding the bloody anti-drug campaign intensifies both domestically and abroad.
Remulla stressed, however, that the CIDG inquiry is separate from proceedings before the International Criminal Court, which is separately investigating Duterte-era killings.
“This has nothing to do with the ICC,” Remulla said. “But if an ICC warrant arrives, then we will act on it.”
The subpoena comes at a politically volatile time, just hours after dela Rosa resurfaced publicly during the dramatic Senate leadership coup that installed Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president amid escalating tensions surrounding the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Beyond Manila’s political circles, the renewed EJK investigation is expected to reverberate deeply across Mindanao, particularly in Davao region where Duterte and dela Rosa continue to command significant grassroots support.
Human rights advocates see the CIDG move as a potential opening for long-delayed accountability, while Duterte loyalists have framed the investigation as politically charged.
For families of victims, however, the subpoena signals that unresolved questions surrounding thousands of drug war killings may once again return to the national spotlight.
