MANILA (UPDATE) -- Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, the former police chief who spearheaded the previous administration's bloody drug war, shrugged off Tuesday the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to proceed with its investigation into the program's alleged human rights violations.

• ICC junks Philippine gov't appeal, to proceed with drug war probe

"Wala. Deadma lang. Hahaha. Wala lang. Hayaan mo lang sila anong gusto nilang gawin, hindi naman natin sila puwedeng diktahan, at the same time hindi nila tayo puwedeng diktahan... Wala akong pakialam sa kanila," Dela Rosa told Radyo 630.

The ICC earlier today ruled that it would proceed with its investigation on the killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody drug war, denying the Philippine government's appeal on the contrary.

The senator admitted that he was already expecting the ICC's decision.

“Hindi na ako na-surprise, at hindi ako concerned, hindi ako nababagabag. Alam ko naman na desidido sila na ituloy yan, eh di ituloy nila yung kanilang imbestigasyon,” the senator said.

He also dared ICC officials to hunt him down: “Hanapin niyo ko." (Find me.)

“Hanapin nyo ako, nasa Pilipinas. I am within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines," he added.

Asked how confident is he that the Marcos administration can "protect" him, Dela Rosa said: “If they cannot protect me, I will protect myself.”

Dela Rosa also continues to defend the controversial anti-drug campaign, saying they did it for the Filipino people, especially the youth.

"Basta ginawa namin yung war on drugs hindi naman pang-sarili namin, hindi para yumaman kami, kundi para sa kapakanan ng mga sambayanang Pilipinas at kabataan," he said.

Other senators also reacted to the ICC's ruling.

"As I have said countless times before, the ICC has no business meddling in our internal affairs where our courts remain fully functional and free from political interference. Probes into the war on drugs are presently being conducted by competent authorities," Sen. Bong Go said.

"Once again, the denial of the appeal does not grant the ICC the jurisdiction which it lacks from the very beginning. Any misguided claims suggesting otherwise would only highlight ICC's persistent disregard for Philippine sovereignty. It is important to note that a foreign entity has no authority to investigate the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte," Sen. Francis Tolentino said.

Officially, 6,181 people were killed in Duterte's "war on drugs" but rights group say that up to 30,000 may have been killed, some innocent victims, and that corruption was rife among security forces that acted with impunity.

• Senator Bato pagod na umanong sagutin ang mga isyu tungkol sa ICC

The Marcos administration had shunned the ICC probe, with President Marcos himself saying that the court had "no jurisdiction" in the Philippines and its investigation being a "threat to our sovereignty."

• 'Bato' holds on to Marcos vow he won't be arrested by ICC

--With a report from Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News

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