- Bato’s lawyer receives revocation order on senator’s firearms licenses
REGIONAL police authorities officially served the order to revoke the licenses and registrations of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s firearms at a police camp in Buhangin District on Wednesday, May 27.
The operation was executed by the Regional Civil Security Unit XI, in coordination with the Police Regional Office XI, and the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
RCSU XI received the electronic copy of the revocation order from national headquarters on May 26. Immediately, unit chief Colonel Jomar Alexis A. Yap coordinated with PRO XI regional director Brigadier General Leon Victor Z. Rosete to enforce the directive.
The order, which nullifies Dela Rosa’s license to own and possess firearms (LTOPF) and corresponding firearms registrations, was formally received by Atty. Vicente Adrian Pajaro, the legal representative of the senator.
To ensure tight security during the enforcement, DCPO personnel and the Ma-a Police Station, under City Director Police Colonel Peter B. Madria, provided standby patrol assistance.
Rosete emphasized that the process concluded peacefully, professionally, and in accordance with the rule of law.
“The Philippine National Police remains committed to the fair, impartial, and lawful execution of its mandates while ensuring respect for due process and the rights of all parties concerned,” Rosete said.
‘Illegal possession’ warning
At the Davao Peace and Security Press briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero clarified that carrying weapons now constitutes a serious criminal offense.
“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.”
Defense slams ‘Constitutional crisis’
Dela Rosa’s chief legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, slammed the order to disarm the senator, which he described as a “constitutional crisis executed in stages.”
Torreon fiercely argued that the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) committed a flagrant legal error by using Section 4(g) of Republic Act 10591 to justify the cancellation.
“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 Dela Rosa has not been convicted by any domestic court, nor has a Philippine judge issued a warrant against him.
Torreon also rejected the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) attempt to use an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant to strip the senator of his weapon privileges, arguing that a foreign tribunal’s authority cannot supersede Philippine sovereignty while the main enforceability case remains unresolved before the Supreme Court.
