THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday said it is considering offering a bounty for information leading to the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
“Pwede, we are considering that but apparently it is not effective yet so tingnan namin kung ano ang kailangan (Possible... We are considering that but apparently it is not effective yet so let’s see what is needed),” Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on the sidelines of the 4th PNP Press Corps National Headquarters Inc. 4th Invitational Shootfest at Camp Karingal in Quezon City.
Dela Rosa remains elusive despite simultaneous raids by law enforcement teams, but Remulla claimed to have leads on his whereabouts.
During his brief appearance at the Senate earlier this month, dela Rosa had asked Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. if he could be detained at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame if he decides to turn himself in.
Remulla defended the police raids in different residences where dela Rosa is believed to be hiding after the senator’s wife, Nancy dela Rosa, complained that a friend’s house had been searched without a warrant presented.
“Wala kaming na-va-violate na police procedure. Everything according to the rules of engagement finafollow namin. Wala kaming ginagawang tokhang, we do not violate any rules. We do not aggressively go in na wala kaming sufficient grounds para pumasok (We did not violate any procedure. Everything according to the rules of engagement, we followed. We did not perform tokhang, we did not violate any rule. We do not go in aggressively because we have no sufficient ground to penetrate),” Remlla said.
As to the findings of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group that the senator’s escape was “related” to the Senate shooting incident, Remulla said: “We will have to find out. We do not know but apparently I don’t believe in coincidences.”
Nartatez said the raids are being conducted not only to arrest the senator but also to confiscate the firearms he owns with revoked permits.
He warned dela Rosa’s fellow lawmakers against helping him evade arrest. “They know the consequences, especially if it’s coddling or helping a person with a warrant of arrest,” Nartatez said.
Remulla reiterated the plea for dela Rosa to surrender, guaranteeing that he will be treated “as an officer and a gentleman.”
On Friday, one of dela Rosa’s lawyers, Jimmy Bondoc, said they have not received an official copy of the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Bondoc also said dela Rosa’s legal team is in contact only with the senator’s family.
“We are only in coordination with the family and we are not privy to any other matters,” he said.
Bondoc stressed, however, that any request for cooperation must be supported by proper legal documents.
“As of today, at this time, we have not received a copy of the warrant. Even [with] the ICC warrant, I have not seen it except online,” he said.
He said no document had undergone domestic judicial procedures, raising questions on whether such a warrant could be immediately enforced in the Philippines.
Bondoc also cited unresolved petitions pending before the Supreme Court concerning the country’s obligations and relationship with the ICC.
“The Supreme Court has not yet resolved the six key constitutional issues in the case,” he said.
Bondoc said the legal team will first examine any warrant served on dela Rosa “and see if it went through the process being invoked before we can respond.”
The developments came as ICC-listed counsel Gilbert Andres, who represents the victims of the Duterte administration’s antidrug campaign, said a distinct criminal case could be initiated against dela Rosa separately from the ongoing proceedings involving former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“A case can be filed separately... there will be a separate case, the Prosecutor versus Ronald Bato dela Rosa,” Andres said.
Under ICC practice, proceedings against dela Rosa could move independently of Duterte’s case, depending on procedural developments and jurisdictional actions before the court, he said.
The ICC could later decide whether related proceedings should remain separate or be consolidated, subject to motions from prosecutors and approval by the Trial Chamber.
Despite the possibility of additional accused individuals, Andres said the ICC proceedings against Duterte should continue under the existing timetable set by the court.
He said the scheduled start of Duterte’s trial on Nov. 30 should proceed as planned, citing the ICC’s emphasis on efficiency, effectiveness and the right to a fair trial for both victims and the accused.
Procedural developments involving dela Rosa or other potential respondents should not delay the proceedings already calendared before the tribunal.
