PNP: Hunt for Dela Rosa still on despite negotiations with ‘powerful protectors’

Fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police said on Wednesday there is no letup in its efforts to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid ongoing government efforts to negotiate with his “protectors” over his surrender. “It will take as long as it will take,” PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said at a press briefing in Camp Crame on Wednesday. “Our efforts did not wane, will not wane, and we will not deviate from serving the warrant of arrest,” Co told reporters. Article continues after this advertisement The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered the arrest of the senator for his role in the drug war waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte as Davao City mayor and later on, as president. The tribunal, which already has Duterte in its custody at The Hague, the Netherlands, identified Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, as a “co-perpetrator.” On Tuesday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told One News’ Storycon that the government was in negotiations with Dela Rosa’s “protectors,” whom he did not identify but described as “powerful people.” READ: Remulla: Negotiations underway with Bato dela Rosa’s ‘protectors’ He also justified the negotiations, saying: “We don’t want casualties involved. That’s number one. They have to surrender peacefully.” “And we will use all the levers of the government to get him out of his hiding, using all the economic and military levers that we have in order to force him out,” Remulla said. Article continues after this advertisement 91 guns unaccounted for The senator’s legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, however, denied any personal knowledge of Dela Rosa’s powerful protectors, saying that his client was a “deeply prayerful man” who considers God his “one and only protector.” Co, meanwhile, said the PNP’s efforts to locate Dela Rosa are ongoing although he refused to provide further details, citing operational matters. Article continues after this advertisement He noted that 91 of the 117 firearms registered to the senator remain unaccounted for. “Our FEO [Firearms and Explosives Office] is continuously coordinating with the [senator’s] family for the surrender of the guns. Legal police action will be initiated,” Co said. The PNP FEO revoked the firearms licenses and gun registrations held by Dela Rosa in June in line with the ongoing campaign to catch him. The senator was last seen in public on May 14, leaving the Senate premises early in the morning. Three days before that, he suddenly surfaced at the chamber after being in hiding for over six months following rumors the ICC had ordered his arrest. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. Remulla previously said that Dela Rosa’s last known location was in Mindanao. /cb