MANILA, May 15 - The Philippine justice minister said on Friday that the country will "definitely" submit to a request from the International Criminal Court to arrest a top senator wanted for alleged crimes against humanity during his role in a bloody "war on drugs".

The warrant for the arrest of Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, the former police chief who oversaw ex-President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-narcotics crackdown, is valid and the Philippines has received a request to serve it, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said.

The ICC unsealed a warrant on Monday for dela Rosa's arrest, dated November. Dela Rosa had been taking refuge at the Senate but slipped out before dawn on Thursday in what his wife called an "escape". His current whereabouts are unknown.

"We will definitely submit to the request of the ICC," Vida told reporters on Friday.

Former President Duterte is currently in ICC detention following his arrest last year, and is set to become the first former Asian head of state to go on trial in The Hague. He is accused of crimes against humanity but has denied wrongdoing.

'FLIGHT IS AN INDICATION OF GUILT'

The Philippines' anti-graft chief and ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told a news conference on Friday that dela Rosa needed to face up to the accusations against him.

"Flight is an indication of guilt, right? That's a very basic tenet of criminal law," he said.

"Is that how our senators should be? Someone who runs from the law? He should be held accountable."

The justice department has already issued an immigration lookout order, justice secretary Vida said.

"We will treat any attempt by Senator dela Rosa to leave the country as a mockery of justice," he said, adding that he has already issued an order to arrest him if he tried to flee.

While Vida said that authorities have information to determine the whereabouts of the senator, he clarified that a manhunt had not been ...