Manhunt for ‘Bato’ intensifies as surrender deadline lapses

National

NO surrender, no sighting — and now, a nationwide manhunt.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has activated task groups in all 18 regions to locate Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following the expiration of his one-week surrender deadline.

Tracker teams have been deployed across the country to intensify the search for the senator, who has a P50-million bounty on his head.

PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Lopez, who oversees the operation, said authorities are pursuing leads from various areas to locate Dela Rosa.

“The PNP’s objective remains clear and that is to arrest Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, and we will make appropriate actions and legal actions to implement this one,” Lopez said at a news briefing at Camp Crame, as quoted by Philstar.

He stressed that Dela Rosa’s former position as PNP chief would not affect the force’s determination to arrest him. Lopez also appealed to the senator to surrender peacefully to prevent possible injuries or violence during the operation.

Dela Rosa went into hiding after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him over his alleged role as a co-perpetrator in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

He resurfaced in May to cast the 13th vote that led to the election of Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president but disappeared following a shooting incident at the Senate.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said intelligence reports placed Dela Rosa in Mindanao, allegedly under the protection of a powerful armed group.

Lopez said the PNP is validating the information, along with tips received through its public hotlines, some of which point to areas outside Mindanao.

Authorities have also tightened border security, particularly in Mindanao, to prevent the senator from leaving the country through unofficial routes.

Coordination with the Bureau of Immigration indicated that Dela Rosa remains in the Philippines, Lopez said.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed police personnel to observe professionalism, respect human rights and exercise maximum restraint to prevent an armed confrontation should they locate the senator.

Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said an expanded manhunt, potentially involving checkpoints, would be a logical step following the lapse of the surrender deadline.

The NBI has maintained a search unit and monitoring team since Dela Rosa went missing in May. Its regional and district offices have also been instructed to monitor possible exit points he could use to leave the country.

Matibag said the bureau is coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP, with operational information limited to personnel who need access to it.

Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, meanwhile, cautioned police against following questionable instructions.

“I hope the PNP personnel would only follow lawful orders. If the order is doubtful, I hope they will act accordingly,” Torreon said in the same report.

He added that his camp checked the International Criminal Police Organization website and found no red notice alert for Dela Rosa, which he said should be the basis for Philippine authorities to arrest his client.(MyTVCebu)