Remulla: Negotiations underway with Bato dela Rosa’s ‘protectors’

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (INQUIRER FILES) MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said negotiations were underway with purported protectors of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. “We know where he is, but there are negotiations now with his protectors and I think we’ll get to him soon,” Remulla said in an interview on One News’ Storycon program on Tuesday. “I cannot really talk at length about it, but he’s being protected by very powerful people.” Article continues after this advertisement The Inquirer sought comment from dela Rosa’s office and legal counsel, Israelito Torreon, but both have yet to respond as of this writing. READ: NBI receives ‘many leads’ on Dela Rosa’s whereabouts The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been searching for dela Rosa since last May to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest over his alleged involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody drug war. Dela Rosa was last seen leaving the Senate premises and supposedly getting off in Makati City in the early hours of May 14, shortly after a shooting incident in the chamber. Remulla justified the supposed negotiations, saying, “We don’t want casualties involved. That’s number one. They have to surrender peacefully.” Article continues after this advertisement “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,” he stressed. The DILG chief further noted that the PNP was working to take custody of a total of 117 firearms registered to dela Rosa. Article continues after this advertisement At least 26 firearms had been surrendered by the senator’s camp since last June. This came after the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office revoked dela Rosa’s firearms license and gun registrations as part of the government’s bid to locate him. /mcm Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.