Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa – Photo courtesy of Bato Dela Rosa/Facebook.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) had mobilized tracker teams to locate Ronald dela Rosa as authorities moved to enforce an arrest order linked to an International Criminal Court (ICC) case.
Police said the search was being carried out in coordination with the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation, with teams tasked to track down the senator and serve the warrant.
PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed units on the ground to stick to protocol, stressing that operations must respect human rights and follow standard procedures.
He emphasized that the police would carry out the arrest under the rule of law, with transparency and discipline guiding every move in the operation.
Nartatez also made it clear the enforcement would not be driven by politics. He said the PNP would do its job professionally, ensuring the process remained orderly and secure for all involved.
At the same time, police personnel were reminded to avoid shortcuts and strictly follow operational rules, with the goal of protecting constitutional rights and maintaining public trust.
The search came after Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida ordered law enforcement agencies to act on the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte-era drug war.
To tighten the net, authorities also placed border units on alert. The PNP said checks with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) showed no record of dela Rosa leaving the country as of Thursday, as efforts to locate him continued.