PNP to Bato dela Rosa: Surrender to prevent harm to uniformed personnel

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) appealed to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a former nationalpolicechief, to voluntarily surrender to prevent harm to uniformed personnel.

“Kung sa puso niya ay gayun pa ang kanyang pagiging tatay ng Philippine National Police, alam ko hindi niya hahayaan na mayroon isa o dalawa o 10 members of the Philippine National Police ang masaktan,” Lt. Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez, PNP deputy chief for administration, told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

(If he still carries in his heart that same sense of being a father figure to the Philippine National Police, I know he would not allow even one, two, or ten members of the Philippine National Police to be harmed.)

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READ: PNP stands firm on arresting Bato dela Rosa as ultimatum expires

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He made the plea as the PNP’s one-week ultimatum to dela Rosa ends on Friday.

Interior Secretary Jonvi Remulla previously warned that arresting dela Rosa may lead to 10,000 deaths as he is being protected by an armed group.

Remulla later described the senator as “armed” and “dangerous.”

“Kaya patuloy pa kaming humihingi ng tulong sa kanya, patuloy pa kaming nagsusumamo sa kanya na sumuko na po siya para maiwasan po natin ang lahat ng mangyari,” Lopez said.

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(That is why we continue to seek his help, and we keep pleading with him to surrender, so that we may avoid whatever might otherwise happen.)

After his disappearance in November 2025 and again in May 2026, the Department of Interior and Local Government placed a P50 million bounty and an ultimatum for the senator’s arrest last Oct. 23.

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Dela Rosa is wanted following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for his alleged role in the bloody anti-drug campaign of then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Lopez said they were saddened, given that dela Rosa served as a police chief under the Duterte administration. 

However, he maintained that the PNP will continue its role in enforcing necessary actions to capture him.

He even assured dela Rosa that, “Hindi po siya masasaktan,” as the PNP maintained that it would implement a peaceful and lawful arrest.