Palace warns Senator Bato Dela Rosa of continued manhunt if he refuses to surrender

MANILA – Malacañang on Tuesday said authorities would continue hunting Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa if he refuses to surrender within the given one-week ultimatum, urging the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to respect the law he once swore to uphold.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the surrender period was intended to give Dela Rosa an opportunity to turn himself in voluntarily and avoid further police operations.

But if the senator continues to resist, authorities will not stop searching for him, Castro said, citing Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s position that there would be “no mercy.”

She said Dela Rosa, as a sitting senator and former PNP chief, should set an example by respecting the law rather than hiding from authorities.

“Bilang dating miyembro ng kapulisan, siya po ang dapat na unang gumagalang sa batas, unang nagpapatupad ng batas lalung-lalo na siya ay senador (As a former member of the police force, he should be among the first to respect the law and uphold its enforcement, especially since he is a senator),” Castro said.

Dela Rosa has been in hiding after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs where he is identified as an indirect co-perpetrator for crimes against humanity.

The one-week ultimatum given to him by authorities to surrender ends on Thursday.

Castro cautioned Dela Rosa against becoming a model for other people facing arrest warrants who might choose to go into hiding.

“Huwag siyang maging ehemplo, huwag siyang maging modelo sa mga taong mayroong kinakaharap na warrant of arrest at magtatago (He should not set an example for people facing arrest warrants who might go into hiding),” she said.

Authorities are offering PHP50-million bounty for the arrest of Dela Rosa.

Remulla recently said Dela Rosa is considered “armed and dangerous” and that arresting him will might turn deadly as he was being coddled by an armed group.