Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa – Photo courtesy of Bato Dela Rosa/Facebook.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it remains focused on locating and arresting Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa even as government officials pursue a separate effort that could lead to the senator surrendering voluntarily.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said Wednesday that police operations have not been scaled back and will continue for as long as necessary. He declined to discuss where authorities are searching, citing operational security.
Questions over dela Rosa’s possible surrender emerged after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed that authorities were communicating with people allegedly providing protection to the senator. Remulla described them only as “powerful people” and did not reveal their identities.
The senator’s legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, has distanced himself from the reported discussions, saying he was unaware of negotiations involving either his client’s surrender or supposed protectors.
Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s bloody anti-drug campaign. The warrant was issued in November and became public in May.
Meanwhile, another issue involving the senator remains unresolved. Police records show that 117 firearms were registered to dela Rosa, but Co said authorities have yet to account for 91 of them.
The PNP Firearms and Explosives Office is seeking the turnover of the weapons through coordination with dela Rosa’s family. His firearms license and registrations were revoked in June, and police said further legal measures could be pursued over firearms that remain unaccounted for.
Dela Rosa has not been publicly seen since leaving the Senate premises on May 14 and reportedly being dropped off in Makati City. Remulla later said information available to authorities placed the senator’s last known whereabouts in Mindanao.
Neither the PNP nor the Department of the Interior and Local Government has announced when the reported negotiations might produce a surrender. Until then, police said the effort to locate dela Rosa and enforce the warrant would continue.