MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has dismissed accusations that the government’s pursuit of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa constitutes political persecution, pointing out that the legal proceedings against him stem from an older case that preceded the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement following the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) recent announcement offering a ₱50-million bounty for information leading to Dela Rosa’s capture, alongside a one-week ultimatum for his voluntary surrender.
In a radio interview, Castro noted that Dela Rosa’s case dates back to 2017 during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, a period when President Marcos was a private citizen following his failed 2016 vice-presidential campaign.
“So, para sabihin na political persecution ito ay parang medyo malayo po,” Castro stated on Wednesday, October 28.
“‘Wag nating ikonekta kasi kaso na po ‘yan, 2017 pa,” she added.
Castro also defended law enforcement bodies like the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP) against critics of the manhunt, emphasizing that police duties must persist regardless of ongoing debates concerning a Supreme Court ruling on past national budgets.
“Ibang usapin po kasi ang trabaho ng DILG at ng PNP. Hindi naman pwede silang magtulog-tulugan,” she remarked, adding that discussions regarding legal rulings should not hinder authorities from enforcing the law.
To reinforce the state’s stance, Castro pointed to Republic Act No. 9851—the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity—which permits local authorities to defer domestic investigations or prosecutions if an international tribunal is already handling the case.
She argued that the administration’s measures align with legal standards and asserted that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should not be viewed merely as a foreign state to which a Filipino citizen is being surrendered.
The ICC officially unsealed an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa on May 11, 2026, after it was initially issued under seal on November 6, 2025. The warrant links him to alleged crimes against humanity involving murder tied to the previous administration’s war on drugs, citing reasonable grounds for his involvement in at least 32 drug-related killings between July 2016 and April 2018.
Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief under Duterte, has remained hidden since leaving the Senate grounds on May 14 after law enforcement officers attempted to execute the ICC warrant. Meanwhile, the DILG issued its ₱50-million reward and surrender deadline on October 23.
While Dela Rosa’s legal counsel has challenged the legality of executing the ICC warrant without a domestic court order following the country’s exit from the Rome Statute in March 2019, President Marcos has directed police to intensify tracking efforts against the senator, with Malacañang stressing that operations will proceed while prioritizing safety to prevent any casualties.