Is Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa hiding in Mindanao? Law enforcement agencies, unfortunately, have different answers.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) believes the senator is being protected by a “powerful armed group” in the Southern Philippines. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), meanwhile, says it cannot confirm his whereabouts.
“I cannot tell [if he’s in Mindanao] but we have a strong belief that he is still in the Philippines,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag said on Thursday, November 5. “Though that’s still a possibility.”
Dela Rosa has remained out of public view since May, following the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said he received information that the legislator was being protected by an armed group in Mindanao. He also warned that a forced arrest could cost “10,000” lives, explaining why he would rather negotiate the senator’s surrender.
Remulla did not identify the alleged armed group, but the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was quick to distance itself from the speculation.
The interior chief also gave Dela Rosa a one-week deadline to surrender, and offered a P50-million bounty for his arrest. After the deadline lapsed, the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched an intensified manhunt operation for their former chief.
“The NBI may soon launch some operations to eliminate the areas that we will identify based on the intelligence reports…With the information we are getting, there is a great chance for his arrest,” Matibag said.
Asked whether the senator would be arrested by Christmas, Matibag replied: “We hope so.”
The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a warrant against Dela Rosa in November last year due to his role in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. He was Duterte’s first police chief who implemented the bloody anti-drug campaign, which human rights organizations said, took the lives of as many as 30,000 people.
The ICC named him a co-perpetrator in the case. It added that those involved “controlled a structure of power” which enabled them to “direct and control the actions” of those who carried out drug war killings.
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan, Dela Rosa’s political party, has appealed to the Supreme Court for a swift resolution of Dela Rosa’s case. The senator’s camp also urged the High Court to reverse its earlier ruling and stop the use of an ICC warrant of arrest against him.
With Dela Rosa still nowhere to be found, Malacañang has challenged the PNP leadership to ensure his arrest, putting pressure on the police force once led by the senator. Will they heed his call or remain loyal to their ex-PNP chief? – with reports by Jairo Bolledo/Rappler.com