'Big chance' of Bato dela Rosa getting arrested, says NBI's Matibag

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National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Thursday expressed belief that there is a big possibility that embattled Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa will be located and arrested soon.

In an ambush interview, Matibag said authorities may start conducting operations, based on intelligence reports, to determine Dela Rosa's exact whereabouts.

"Baka any time soon we'll have some operations just to eliminate 'yung areas that we've identified based on the intel reports that we're having," the NBI chief said.

(Maybe any time soon we'll have some operations just to eliminate the areas that we've identified based on the intel reports that we're having.)

"I think with the information that we're getting, baka malaki 'yung tsansa (there might be a big chance)," he added.

Asked if Dela Rosa is hiding in Mindanao, Matibag said he could not tell for sure.

"Basta we have strong belief na nandito siya sa Pilipinas. But though, that's a possibility," he said.

(We just have a strong belief that he is here in the Philippines. But though, that's a possibility.)

Dela Rosa has been issued an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The senator was chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the time the war on drugs was implemented.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has raised a P50-million reward for the arrest of Dela Rosa, who according to Interior Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla is considered "armed and dangerous."

Remulla also said authorities were also negotiating with a group protecting the senator to secure his surrender and prevent a potentially violent confrontation.

Duterte, meanwhile, is detained at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, while awaiting his crimes against humanity trial this month. — VDV, GMA News