MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday announced mobile numbers where the public may report information on the whereabouts of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
During a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co urged the public to contact authorities through official hotlines if they have any information on the fugitive senator.
The senator, wanted under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged murder cases linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, now has a PHP50 million bounty on his head.
The hotlines are: 0927-3073501; 0995-512-2729; 0945-611-5926; 0999-361-9878; and 0960-692-3025.
“We assure anybody who will be giving tips that their identities and numbers will be kept confidential, so we cannot discuss yung mga tips na natanggap na natin (the tips that we have received),” Co said.
The PNP spokesperson, however, warned the public that prank callers will be held criminally liable, especially if their intention is only to sow chaos or flood authorities with false information.
Co also said police have deployed tracker teams, including Special Action Force personnel, to locate and arrest the senator.
While appealing for a peaceful arrest, the PNP assured that it is nonetheless ready for an armed encounter given the consideration that Dela Rosa is now “armed and dangerous” and that he is under the protection of a powerful armed group in Mindanao.
Despite the nearing lapse of the ultimatum for his surrender, the senator’s camp also has not sent any surrender feelers to the PNP, as well as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday said that it is more than ready to support any lawful operation of the government consistent with its mandate.
This was stressed by AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla when asked if the military would be supporting operations to arrest Dela Rosa.
“(The) lead agency po dyan is (for that is) the Philippine National Police. We support lawful operations of the government, consistent with our mandate and subject to applicable laws and procedures,” she added in an interview with DZMM.
Dela Rosa has been in hiding since leaving the Senate premises on May 14. (Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan with a report from Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
