Davao Peace and Security press briefing

THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) on Wednesday expressed readiness to coordinate with national law enforcement agencies and enforce directives regarding Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, as a fierce legal battle erupted over the cancellation of the lawmaker’s firearms licenses.

Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security Press Briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero confirmed that local police are prepared to assist the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) if formal coordination takes place.

“Per instructions from our city director, Police Colonel Peter Baunzon Madria, we will coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation and provide personnel support if they need the Davao City Police Office to implement orders just in case,” Caballero said.

The firearms dispute

The briefing came amid rising tensions after national authorities moved to cancel Dela Rosa’s 118 firearms licenses, citing pending legal developments. 

Addressing the issue, Caballero warned that carrying the weapons would become a criminal offense if the revocation is finalized.

“If revoked, [the firearms] can no longer be used anywhere—whether inside or outside your premises,” Caballero explained. “Failure to comply will constitute illegal possession of firearms.”

Caballero added that the local police command is awaiting official documents from the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters under Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. regarding the senator’s status.

“We have instructions coming from our National Headquarters, especially from the Chief PNP, regarding our situation with Senator Ronald Dela Rosa. Once the Davao City Police Office receives the proper documents—especially if the licenses are officially revoked—we will follow and implement those instructions,” she stated.

However, Caballero declined to comment on the NBI’s recent classification of the former PNP chief turned lawmaker as “armed and dangerous.”

“Many here respect him and we know his personality. We have no comment on the statement of the NBI, but the Davao City Police Office will strictly execute whatever instructions come from the Chief PNP, our Regional Director, and our City Director, Colonel Madria,” Caballero said.

Defense slams ‘constitutional crisis’

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon fiercely contested the weapon license cancellations, describing the executive branch’s aggressive posture as a “constitutional crisis executed in stages.”

In a statement posted on Facebook, Torreon argued that the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) committed a fundamental legal error by citing Section 4(g) of Republic Act 10591 to cancel the licenses.

“Section 4 is titled ‘Standards and Requisites for Issuance and Obtaining a License.’ It tells you who can get a license. Section 39—separately titled ‘Grounds for Revocation’—tells you when you can lose one,” Torreon pointed out, adding that a pending criminal case is not a ground for revocation unless there is a final conviction or a direct order from a Philippine court.

Torreon also rejected the NBI’s invocation of the Doctrine of Incorporation to validate the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, arguing that international treaties do not automatically turn foreign tribunals into domestic Philippine courts.

 He further distinguished Dela Rosa’s situation from that of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, noting that Quiboloy faced charges filed unambiguously within domestic courts.

The defense counsel raised alarms over the security implications of the government’s simultaneous moves.

“The NBI has classified Senator Dela Rosa as ‘armed and dangerous’—activating protocols that authorize lethal approach—while stripping him of his legal authority to be armed,” Torreon said, pointing out that the Supreme Court has yet to resolve the actual enforceability of the ICC warrant.

“The Executive’s answer to those open questions is not to wait for the Court. It is to act before the Court can answer. That is not law enforcement. That is a constitutional crisis,” Torreon concluded.