(From left) Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. ABS-CBN News/File photos

MANILA — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer in his crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed Sunday the warrant of arrest the court has allegedly issued for Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

In a statement, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman called the supposed arrest warrant as just “a figment of Ombudsman Remulla’s fertile imagination”.

Kaufman as referring to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who said in a radio program on Saturday that he received information that the ICC already issued a warrant of arrest against Dela Rosa, national police chief during the early years of Duterte’s so-called war on drugs..

“It goes against all common sense and prosecutorial logic for the ICC to issue further warrants in the context of the Philippines investigation until the issue of its ability to exercise jurisdiction over the so-called war on drugs has been finally resolved on appeal,” Kaufman said.

The ICC has rejected Duterte’s challenge of its jurisdiction, saying in October that the preliminary examination into the situation in the Philippines began “prior to both the Philippines depositing its written notification of withdrawal from the Statute and the date on which that withdrawal became effective.”

Duterte’s legal team has appealed the decision.

Polo Martinez, spokesperson of the Department of Justice, said Saturday that the agency was “working to verify” information on the warrant.

Dela Rosa’s camp has urged the public to exercise caution on reports regarding the alleged arrest warrant against the former police chief.