- Davao police say they are not actively looking for Senator Bato
THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) has received no directive from higher headquarters to monitor or arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if spotted within its jurisdiction.
This was the announcement of DCPO spokesperson Capt. Hazel Caballero at the Davao Peace and Security Press Briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, May 20.
The local statement follows Dela Rosa’s sudden exit from the protective custody of the Senate sergeant-at-arms last week, which occurred shortly after the Senate convened to vote on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Honestly, within the Davao City Police Office, we have not received any instructions once our Senator Bato Dela Rosa is in (he is in the) area of responsibility,” Caballero said.
When pressed on whether specific tracking or monitoring protocols had been initiated by leadership, Caballero reiterated the lack of central directives.
“As far as I know, there are no instructions received by the Davao City Police Office with regards to the arrest of Senator Bato once he is in our area of responsibility,” she added.
Dela Rosa’s sudden departure from the Senate premises last week sparked widespread speculation of an impending arrest or legal summons.
It is a narrative the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) previously attempted to downplay by denying any new domestic subpoena, alongside rumors of an enforcement timeline regarding an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the DCPO maintained a “business-as-usual” stance.Local authorities stated they will not actively track the former PNP chief-turned-lawmaker without any direct order.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has officially unsealed and confirmed a warrant of arrest against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa for crimes against humanity of murder.
The warrant alleges he served as an indirect co-perpetrator in a “common plan” to neutralize alleged criminals in the anti-drug campaign between July 2016 and April 2018.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents attempted to enforce the warrant but backed down when the Senate shielded him within the chamber.
Dela Rosa’s legal camp is seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Supreme Court to block the warrant’s enforcement, arguing jurisdictional issues due to the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
The Department of Justice has issued an immigration lookout bulletin to prevent Dela Rosa from leaving the country.
