The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are ordered to arrest Senator Ronald Dela Rosa based on the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a press conference on Thursday, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida announced that Dela Rosa can now be arrested upon sighting, even within the country.

"I would like to confirm the Philippine law enforcement agencies, which would include the PNP, the National Bureau of Investigation, are now passed to effect the arrest of Senator Bato Dela Rosa," he said.

"Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice, and he should be brought to the ICC to face the charges before him," he added.

Vida ordered the arrest of Dela Rosa after the Supreme Court dismissed on Wednesday his petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) or status quo ante order to invalidate his ICC warrant.

"This presupposes any order. This is actually operationalizing a valid arrest warrant and given that there is no interim order from the SC, the same is now enforceable and the law enforcement agencies will enforce it," he said.

Vida said Philippine law enforcers will acknowledge Dela Rosa's constitutional rights if he will be arrested.

Vida also warned those who would like to help Dela Rosa from being arrested by authorities of possible "consequences" as he confirmed that law enforcement agencies have leads to his whereabouts.

"Yes definitely. I heard there are leads that they are working on. Definitely there are leads. As to the exact lead I cannot discuss them... hopefully we do (the arrest) as fast as we can," he said.

"Those who might be aiding or abetting or helping Senator Bato evade the law, there are consequences. We know that in the rule of law there are liabilities not just in Philippine law, but also in the law of the ICC," he added.

Vida did not say what is going to happen to Dela Rosa once he is arrested but he noted that the "ultimate objective is to bring him to the ICC."

"Definitely there's coordination among the various law enforcement agencies, there are existing guidelines, standard operating procedures to effect the arrest and all of these will be followed," he added. Robina Asido/PHS