PNP rejects ‘shoot-to-kill’ calls vs. Bato Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police (PNP) rejects calls for a “shoot-to-kill” approach in serving an arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, amid the circulation of fabricated quote cards attributing such a call to a lawmaker.

“The PNP does not subscribe to a shoot-to-kill approach. Our mandate is to enforce the law, not to take the law into our own hands,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Tuesday.

The statement came after Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan denied social media claims that he had called for a “shoot-to-kill” resolution against Dela Rosa.

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READ: Legislator denies pushing ‘shoot-to-kill’ resolution vs Bato Dela Rosa

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Suan dismissed the circulating posts as entirely fabricated and clarified that he had never made such remarks.

“Every operation must be guided by due process, respect for human rights, and the rule of law,” the PNP chief said.

Dela Rosa, a former police chief, is facing an arrest warrant in connection with crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court.

He has a P50-million bounty on his head and has been designated a fugitive from justice by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General.

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The deadline for his surrender expired on Oct. 30, following a one-week period.

Nartatez said calls for accountability must not undermine established legal safeguards.

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“We understand the public’s desire for accountability, but justice must never be pursued at the expense of the law. Let us allow law enforcement authorities to do their job professionally and impartially because the strength of justice lies not in the use of excessive force, but in the faithful enforcement of the law,” he said.

Police units were directed to maintain intelligence-gathering and monitoring efforts to establish Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.

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“The credibility of law enforcement rests not only on our ability to enforce the law but on our discipline in doing so within the limits prescribed by law,” Nartatez said. /mcm