PNP: Bato dela Rosa still in PH, manhunt intensifies

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Friday its manhunt for Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa would be intensified following the expiration of the deadline for his voluntary surrender.

PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lieutenant General Wilson Lopez, supervisor of the manhunt for Dela Rosa, said the senator remains in the Philippines, based on the Bureau of Immigration's (BI) update.

"Let me declare, hindi tayo uurong sa ating tungkulin," he said at a press briefing.

(Let me declare, we will not back down from our duty.)

"Ang PNP hindi tumigil sa paghahanap kay Senator Dela Rosa. Ang kaibahan lang this time ay mas magiging intensified 'yung operations nating gagawin. We'll be exerting full effort. At sabi ko nga, we have assigned specific task groups to do the purpose," he added.

(The PNP has not stopped searching for Senator Dela Rosa. The only difference is that this time the operations we will carry out will be more intensified. We'll be exerting full effort. And as I said, we have assigned specific task groups to do the purpose.)

Lopez said the police organization has reorganized its tracker teams and established dedicated task groups at the national and regional levels to locate Dela Rosa.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier gave an ultimatum for Dela Rosa and urged him to surrender within one week.

Bounty

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier announced a P50-million reward for information leading to Dela Rosa's arrest.

According to Lopez, the PNP has received numerous calls through hotlines opened for the public to provide information on Dela Rosa's whereabouts. However, all information received was still undergoing validation.

Lopez also said the police have not received any feelers regarding Dela Rosa's possible voluntary surrender.

The PNP official said authorities are considering Dela Rosa's possible escape routes including backdoor exits as part of its operations.

Asked if the PNP is ready for a possible encounter with Dela Rosa during the manhunt, Lopez said, "In all operations, we are always considering all angles. So lahat ng possible things na puwede nangyari, kino-consider po natin and that's part of the plan."

(In all operations, we are always considering all angles. So all possible things that could happen, we are considering and that's part of the plan.)

Hunting the former PNP chief

Lopez expressed hope that Dela Rosa would not allow any police officer to get hurt in the manhunt operation as the senator was a former PNP chief.

"Kung titignan natin, si Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa ay dating magulang, dating tatay ng PNP. Kung sa puso niya ay naroon pa ang pagiging tatay ng PNP at kung hindi niya hahayaan na mayroong isa o dalawa o any members of the PNP na masaktan," Lopez said.

(If we look at it, Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa is a former parent, a former father of the PNP. If in his heart there is still being a father of the PNP and if he will not let one or two or any members of the PNP get hurt.)

Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The senator is accused of being a co-perpetrator in the alleged crimes perpetrated during Duterte's war on drugs.

Earlier, the DILG claimed that Dela Rosa was hiding in Mindanao under the protection of an "armed and powerful group," but did not identify the organization. — VDV, GMA News