MANILA, Philippines — Deputy minority leader and Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima on Monday questioned the necessity of putting out a ₱50-million bounty for the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
De Lima was echoing concerns about earlier raised by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson who insisted De La Rosa, despite being in hiding, is still is entitled to due process, “a fundamental right guaranteed to every Filipino”.
“I join Sen. Ping Lacson in raising the issue of the propriety or necessity of the ₱50M bounty for the arrest of Sen. Bato,” De Lima said.
“If the whereabouts are known, what then is the rationale for such a bounty?” she added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla last October 23 announced the reward, as authorities sought to locate Dela Rosa, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s unforgiving anti-drugs campaign.
The senator has been out of the public eye and has since been declared a fugitive by the foreign tribunal.
The ICC case stems from allegations related to the anti-drug campaign during Duterte’s presidency.
