Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has expressed full agreement with Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s call for operational secrecy when tracking down high-profile fugitives, despite having previously announced a multi-million-peso reward for Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The response comes after Lacson questioned the necessity of keeping a public ₱50 million bounty when authorities claimed they had already pinpointed dela Rosa’s location.
Defending the hefty reward, Remulla explained that the Philippines’ vast geography of over 7,000 islands makes pinning down a suspect exceptionally difficult. He added that dela Rosa’s extensive background as a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and his network of influential protectors further complicate the apprehension.
“The Philippines is a large country, 7,650 islands. Ascertaining with all certainty is a hefty job,” Remulla insisted.
Remulla emphasized that the aggressive pursuit of dela Rosa continues under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to accelerate the arrest while avoiding any loss of life.
The Interior Secretary stated that authorities exhausted all possible courtesies regarding a peaceful surrender, accusing the senator of mistaking peaceful negotiation efforts—intended to prevent a violent encounter—for 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 said.
Dela Rosa has been the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for nearly a year, facing allegations as a co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte. Officials confirmed that the reward money will be drawn from the intelligence funds of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PNP.
While the search intensifies, Lacson—who previously served as dela Rosa’s superior at the PNP—has strongly advocated for a peaceful operation, emphasizing that the fugitive senator is entitled to due process.
Members of the Senate minority bloc have similarly urged authorities to prioritize dialogue to secure a peaceful resolution without tragedy.