The man who once arrested a former president now prepares to potentially arrest his old colleagues.
New Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III sits in his office at Camp Crame. Outside, the Manila heat beats down on concrete. Inside, he faces questions that could shake the very foundation of Philippine law enforcement.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Torre says. His voice is steady. But the weight of his words hangs heavy in the air.
The bridge he mentions? Potential arrest orders from the International Criminal Court. The targets? Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and former police chief Oscar Albayalde.
Both men helped lead one of the bloodiest campaigns in recent Philippine history. Duterte’s drug war. Thousands died. Families were torn apart. And now, international justice may come calling.
The Architect of Violence
Torre knows what it means to arrest powerful people. Just three months ago, he led the team that took former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague. Duterte now faces charges of crimes against humanity.
But this time feels different. These aren’t just political figures. They’re cops. His fellow officers.
Dela Rosa earned his nickname “Bato” which means rock. He lived up to it during his time as Duterte’s first police chief from 2016 to 2018. He created “Oplan Tokhang” – knock and plead. What started as house visits became deadly raids.
The body count climbed. Human rights groups say thousands died. Families begged for mercy. But the campaign rolled on.
Next in Line
When Dela Rosa stepped down, Albayalde took over. From 2018 to 2019, he continued the controversial war on drugs. The violence didn’t stop.
Now both men may face the same fate as their former boss.
“They could be,” says lawyer Kristina Conti. She works as an assistant to ICC counsel. Her words are simple but chilling.
Conti reveals that three names appear in ICC documents. Duterte. Dela Rosa. Albayalde.
“There are three additional names of police officers who are allegedly involved as well,” she adds. The documents about them remain unofficial. For now.
Preparing for the Storm
Back at Camp Crame, Torre refuses to show his hand. He won’t discuss specific plans. Can’t reveal strategies. Won’t name scenarios.
“It’s just not proper to discuss it at the moment,” he explains. “We’ll make decisions as they come.”
But behind closed doors, preparations are underway. Contingency plans are being drawn. Officers are being briefed.
The irony isn’t lost on anyone. The same institution that carried out the drug war may soon arrest its own leaders.
The Weight of Justice
The Palace claims it hasn’t received official word about any Interpol red notices. No formal alerts. No arrest warrants. Not yet.
But Conti expects more evidence to emerge once Duterte’s trial begins. More details about what Dela Rosa and Albayalde knew. What they ordered. What they allowed.
Torre understands the gravity of his position. He once served under these men. Now he may have to serve warrants against them.
The bridge he mentioned grows closer every day. When he finally crosses it, Philippine law enforcement will never be the same.
“We are also making contingencies,” Torre admits. “If something like that happens, this is what we will do.”
The question isn’t if anymore. It’s when.
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