The International Criminal Court has confirmed it issued an arrest warrant for an ally of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the country's deadly anti-drug campaign.

The Philippine Senate implemented lockdown measures to protect a former enforcer of Duterte's controversial "drugs war" policy. The security measures were put in place amid heightened tensions surrounding the ICC proceedings and related testimony.

The arrest warrant represents the latest action by the ICC in its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity during Duterte's presidency from 2016 to 2022. The court has been examining the conduct of Philippine officials involved in the anti-drug operations that resulted in thousands of deaths.

Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign became one of the most controversial aspects of his presidency, drawing international criticism from human rights organizations and Western governments. The former president has consistently defended the operations as necessary to combat drug trafficking and maintain public order.

The ICC's jurisdiction over the matter stems from the Philippines' previous membership in the Rome Statute, though the country officially withdrew from the court during Duterte's tenure. The court maintains it retains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was still a member state.

The current Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not indicated whether it will cooperate with ICC proceedings or honor any arrest warrants issued by the court.