Still no Interpol red notice vs Bato dela Rosa, lawyer says

MANILA, Philippines —  The camp of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa claimed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has no basis for its manhunt operations as the senator is not listed in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) red notice.

Lawyer Israelito Torreon, the senator’s legal counsel, insisted that, based on information they received, there is no Interpol red notice yet against dela Rosa.

An Interpol red notice is a request, which allows all law enforcement agencies to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition and other legal proceedings.

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“May na-confirm nga ‘yung isang kasama natin na wala pala siya sa listahan ng red notice ng Interpol,” Torreon said in a phone interview on Friday.

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(One of our colleagues has confirmed that he is actually not on Interpol’s red notice list.)

READ: Bersamin on ICC arrest of Bato: Not so fast

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

The PNP earlier said that it will intensify its operations to locate the senator after missing the one-week ultimatum.

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A P50-million bounty was also placed for his arrest.

“Anong magiging basehan ng PNP sa paghahanap sa kanya. Kailangan ng ICC warrant na dumaan sa Interpol, pero wala pa lang kumpirmasyon na nandoon siya o may red notice against him,” Torreon asserted.

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(What will the PNP’s basis for its pursuit? An ICC warrant would have to go through Interpol, yet there is no confirmation that there’s a red notice issued against him.)

Torreon, however, admitted that they have yet to secure a certification or written statement from the Interpol to confirm the matter.

The Department of Justice earlier said that the ICC’s arrest warrant is enforceable following the application for the issuance of a red notice against dela Rosa.

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Duterte was arrested and surrendered by Philippine authorities before the ICC in March 2025 for his crime against humanity case through an Interpol request. /gsg