Who wouldn’t recognize Bato dela Rosa? PNP defers ‘wanted’ poster

MANILA, Philippines — There may be no need for a “wanted” poster on someone as recognizable as Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, according to the spokesperson of the Philippine National Police.

Police Col. Allen Rae Co gave this view on Thursday, with the manhunt for the lawmaker expected to enter a new phase because of the one-week ultimatum given by the PNP for Dela Rosa to surrender.

The ultimatum, which was announced by PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Oct. 23, lapses today.

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“We do not see any need for [a poster] now because, first of all, who wouldn’t know what Senator Bato looks like?’’ Co said of the bald-headed senator, who first shot to national prominence as the PNP chief who enforced the brutal antidrug campaign of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

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READ: No need for wanted posters for Bato dela Rosa for now, says PNP

Since March 2025, the 81-year-old Duterte has been detained at The Hague, the Netherlands, to face trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the thousands killed in the crackdown. In November that year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant on Dela Rosa as one of Duterte’s “co-perpetrators.”

Dela Rosa had since gone into hiding, save for a surprise appearance at the Senate in May to help install an ally, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, as the chamber’s president. Staying for three days in the Senate building, he enjoyed what Cayetano called “protective custody” that effectively prevented authorities from serving the warrant.

As Dela Rosa’s lawyers questioned the warrant’s legality, and after an unprecedented shooting incident at the Senate, the lawmaker slipped out of the building and again disappeared.

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Last week, aside from the PNP setting a deadline, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced a P50-million reward for tips leading to the senator’s arrest, the single biggest bounty offered by the government in recent history.

“Everybody has heard that there is a P50-million reward for those who will be able to give his location, and we all know that authorities are looking for him,’’ Co added on Thursday.

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“In the future, if we will be able to evaluate whether [having a poster] will help us in looking for or arresting Senator Bato, then that’s the time that we will come out with the ‘wanted’ poster,” he said.

‘End this with dignity’

The PNP spokesperson repeated calls for the senator to voluntarily turn himself in and prevent any bloodshed.

“Again, the same appeal that we are giving to him and to his family: Let’s end this with dignity on your part. Let’s avoid any untoward incident, any potential dangerous encounter or any harm that may come to anybody.”

Co also reiterated that the PNP had considered Dela Rosa to be “armed and dangerous’’ and that the former police general may still be keeping more than 90 firearms.

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Dela Rosa’s legal team led by lawyer Israelito Torreon is currently challenging before the Supreme Court the legality of implementing the ICC warrant without an affirmation from a local court.