DAYS AFTER THE Supreme Court junked a plea for temporary restraining order, the Philippine National Police (PNP) alerted regional, provincial city and municipal police stations to be on the lookout for Senator Ronal “Bato” Dela Rosa, who has a standing arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Likewise joining the nationwide manhunt is the National Bureau of Investigation, according to Justice Secretary Frederick Vida.
In a press briefing, Sec. Vida said law enforcement agencies, including the NBI, may proceed with serving the ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa after a foiled attempt at the Senate on May 11.
“First, there’s a valid arrest warrant issued by the ICC. Second, he is not in the Senate premises. Third, there’s no TRO or any interim order from the Supreme Court. Fourth, the arrest warrant is now enforceable. So, it will be enforced, and it will be served,” Vida told reporters.
He also said no shortcuts will be taken in serving the warrant.
“There’s coordination among the various law enforcement agencies. There are existing guidelines and standard operating procedures to effect the arrest, and all of this will be followed,” he added.
STILL IN THE COUNTRY
Dela Rosa has yet to leave the country, according to PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II.
“Just like Atong Ang, Sen. Bato is still inside the country. We will be enforcing that warrant of arrest,” the CIDG chief said.
Dela Rosa has been in hiding since May 14, when he vanished from the Senate premises. A video footage also showed Sen. Robin Padilla accompanied the fugitive senator.
Morico said Dela Rosa will be brought to the DOJ “immediately after” arrest for booking. “We will be turning him over, after all the booking procedure, turning him over to the Department of Justice,” he assured.
SURRENDER OR ELSE
As this developed, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., in a separate ambush interview, called on the senator to surrender amid the nationwide manhunt.
“Pwede naman, seeking protective custody. Meaning, that is surrender,” Nartatez said.
“Kung by all peaceful means he will surrender, yield himself, eh di mas maganda, para mag-concentrate tayo sa ibang wanted person. We have Atong Ang, Zaldy Co, Bantag, and the rest of hundreds of thousands of wanted persons listed,” he added.
Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity during the previous administration’s bloody war against drugs.
