The government has offered a P50-million reward for the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who has remained in hiding since May despite calls from authorities to surrender, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said Friday.
At a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Oct. 23, Remulla said the Philippine National Police had given Dela Rosa one week to surrender peacefully, warning that the senator was now considered “armed and dangerous.”
“We have given him (Dela Rosa) all the courtesy that could be afforded as a senator of the Republic of the Philippines. He has shown nothing but cowardice by remaining in hiding. Sen. Bato mistook my gesture of negotiation as a sign of weakness. It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to bring justice to his victims,” Remulla said.
The announcement came nearly a year after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa over his alleged role as a “co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case against detained former president Rodrigo Duterte.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police were preparing to arrest Dela Rosa, whether through a peaceful surrender or an armed confrontation.
“Of course, we would like to have a peaceful resolution of whatsoever conflicts, especially in the implementation of any warrant whether search warrant or arrest warrant,” Nartatez said.
He said the PNP was forming a dedicated team led by Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Lopez to oversee the manhunt.
The operation will involve intelligence teams tasked with locating Dela Rosa and tactical personnel who will handle the arrest, with the process extending through the senator’s eventual appearance before the ICC, Nartatez said.
Nartatez also warned that individuals or organized groups proven to be helping Dela Rosa evade arrest would face legal consequences.
The government’s reward offer and the police operation come as authorities continue efforts to locate the senator and enforce the arrest warrant.
Photo courtesy of Philippine Star
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