By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Police are intensifying their nationwide manhunt for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa after he failed to surrender by the Philippine National Police’s Friday deadline over an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez, who heads the task force tracking down the senator, said authorities would pursue appropriate legal measures to carry out the arrest.
“Let me declare, we will not back down from our duty,” Lopez said.
The PNP has reorganized its task force into regional teams and strengthened intelligence monitoring in key areas to locate Dela Rosa, whom Lopez said remains in the Philippines.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier announced a ₱50-million reward for information leading to the senator’s arrest. Police have also established a 24-hour hotline to receive information from the public, with submitted tips undergoing verification.
Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief from 2016 to 2018 and implemented the drug war’s Oplan Double Barrel campaign, is among eight alleged co-perpetrators identified in the ICC investigation.
However, his lawyer, Israelito Torreon, questioned the legal basis for the manhunt, arguing that Interpol had not issued a Red Notice against his client. He acknowledged that his camp had yet to obtain written certification confirming the senator’s absence from the list.
The Department of Justice maintains that the ICC warrant is enforceable, citing an application for an Interpol notice.
The Supreme Court earlier denied Dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order seeking to prevent his arrest and block an Interpol notice.
ia/xf
