The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has assured that the manhunt for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa will be carried out intensely but strictly within the bounds of the law, even as a ₱50 million reward hangs over his capture.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla made the announcement following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expedite efforts to take the senator into custody. Remulla emphasized that law enforcement will not back down from the task, though precautions will be taken to prevent any loss of life during operations.
According to the DILG chief, authorities extended every possible institutional courtesy to the lawmaker, but his refusal to surrender and face pending legal charges demonstrates cowardice.
Remulla added that the fugitive senator mistakenly interpreted previous negotiation efforts aimed at securing a peaceful surrender—and preventing a catastrophic, Marawi-scale conflict—as a sign of hesitation or weakness.
“My objective is to effect the warrant at all costs but within the bounds of the law. I urge him to surrender now,” Remulla stated.
The ₱50 million bounty was issued on October 23 for information leading to dela Rosa’s location after repeated calls for his voluntary surrender went unheeded. The reward announcement follows nearly a year after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant naming him as a co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity cases linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte.
With the cash reward now active, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has classified dela Rosa as “armed and dangerous” and granted him a strict one-week ultimatum to turn himself in peacefully.