MANILA — Malacañang has given Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa three more days to surrender voluntarily as police intensified their manhunt for the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro warned Tuesday that authorities would continue efforts to locate Dela Rosa, stressing that the one-week grace period granted to the senator was an opportunity to surrender peacefully rather than face further police action.
“Ang period na ibinigay kay Senator Bato Dela Rosa ay para sumuko siya nang maayos, na hindi na gagalaw pa sana ang kapulisan dahil mas maganda magkaroon voluntary surrender,” Castro said during a press briefing.
Citing Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s uncompromising position, Castro urged Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, to uphold the law rather than set an example for individuals attempting to evade arrest.
“According kay Secretary Jonvic, ‘no mercy.’ So ngayon, binibigyan pa po ng pagkakataon si Senator Bato Dela Rosa na gampanan niya ang kanyang tungkulin bilang Pilipino. Hindi lang ‘yun dahil dati rin siyang nagsilbi na PNP chief. ‘Wag siya maging ehemplo, ‘wag siya maging modelo sa mga taong may kinakaharap na warrant of arrest at magtatago,” Castro added.
The PNP, meanwhile, disclosed that Dela Rosa had made no attempt to communicate his intention to surrender despite the approaching deadline.
“Wala pa pong feelers as of now. ‘Yun pong one week na binigay for him to be able to surrender, ito po ay sign of goodwill for him to be able to end this with dignity,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said.
With only three days remaining, the PNP has deployed additional tracker teams to establish the senator’s whereabouts and strengthen ongoing efforts to locate him.
Co emphasized that authorities still preferred a peaceful and voluntary surrender to prevent the situation from escalating.
Dela Rosa faces allegations before the ICC of being a co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the anti-illegal drugs campaign of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier claimed that the senator was hiding somewhere in Mindanao under the protection of an armed and influential group.
Authorities have also announced a P50-million reward for information leading to his arrest, underscoring the intensified effort to locate the former national police chief.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has joined the search, pursuing intelligence reports and other leads that could establish Dela Rosa’s location.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag vowed that investigators would exhaust every available means to find the senator.
“Para sa paghanap natin kay Bato, we will not leave any stone unturned. Lahat ng bato ay ating babaliktarin para mahanap natin si Senator Bato,” Matibag said.
As the surrender deadline draws closer, authorities have yet to report any indication that Dela Rosa intends to turn himself in voluntarily.
The senator’s whereabouts remain unconfirmed, while police and investigators continue efforts to locate him./PN
