(UPDATE) THE Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the Philippines is seeking an Interpol Red Notice against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, intensifying efforts to arrest the fugitive lawmaker on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.
DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said the application for an Interpol Red Notice Forms part of the legal remedies available to authorities pursuing dela Rosa.
An Interpol Red Notice is a request circulated among law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition or similar legal action. If issued, all 195 Interpol member countries may assist in locating and detaining the subject.
The move came as law enforcers continued searching for dela Rosa, who has remained out of public view since May 14.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier declared dela Rosa a fugitive from justice and directed both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to enforce the ICC arrest warrant.
The warrant covers allegations of crimes against humanity involving murder in connection with at least 32 killings linked to anti-drug operations conducted between July 2016 and April 2018 under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte is detained at The Hague in the Netherlands awaiting trial.
The Supreme Court on May 20 denied dela Rosa’s petition for a temporary restraining order seeking to stop his arrest. Voting 9-5-1, the tribunal allowed authorities to proceed with enforcement. The Court is expected to release its full resolution, including concurring and dissenting opinions, on Monday.
Dela Rosa’s wife Grace on Monday posted an appeal to the judiciary not to be an accessory to bringing her husband to The Hague to face trial for crimes against humanity.
Grace Nancy dela Rosa made the appeal in an open letter to the judiciary which she posted on Facebook.
“Please do not be an accessory to bringing my husband to the Hague. Every Filipino must be tried in his own country,” she said.
100 guns
Amid the continuing manhunt, NBI Director Melvin Matibag confirmed that the bureau has requested the cancellation of firearms licenses for more than 100 guns reportedly registered under dela Rosa’s name.
In an interview, Matibag said the NBI had already sent a letter to the PNP seeking revocation of the licenses.
The firearms reportedly include automatic rifles, high-powered firearms, and shotguns.
The bureau previously tagged dela Rosa as “armed and dangerous” in relation to ongoing efforts to locate and arrest him. Authorities also cited the senator’s background as a former PNP chief as a “major concern,” saying it could complicate enforcement operations.
But the PNP on Monday said it has not received word from the NBI regarding its request that the firearm licenses be revoked.
Bounty considered
Matibag also disclosed that the DOJ is studying the possibility of offering a bounty or reward for information that could lead to dela Rosa’s arrest.
“Again, the lead agency here is the Department of Justice. I believe that is being studied and considered, but they will be the ones to announce it,” Matibag said.
He clarified that the NBI’s primary role remains operational, particularly in locating the senator and carrying out lawful arrest orders.
“Our role is really to locate him and effect the arrest based on the warrant issued by the ICC,” he said.
Matibag added that the NBI continues coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, including the PNP, as authorities pursue leads on dela Rosa’s whereabouts.
The NBI chief also said there is still no official record showing that dela Rosa has left the country.
“If we base it on the records of the Bureau of Immigration, there is still no record of his departure,” Matibag said.
However, he acknowledged that investigators remain cautious because undocumented exits remain possible, citing the country’s numerous entry and exit points and past incidents involving unrecorded departures.
Flood of unreliable information
Matibag said authorities continue pursuing several leads regarding dela Rosa’s possible location, but noted that investigators are also dealing with a flood of unreliable information from the public.
“There are many people giving us information that we cannot simply ignore, so we still need to validate these reports, but many eventually turn out negative and cause delays in operations,” he said.
The NBI director also warned of what he described as a growing spread of misinformation and online exploitation linked to the case, including individuals allegedly using the search for the senator to scam people for money.
According to Matibag, some individuals fabricate stories based on circulating news reports before attempting to solicit money from the public.
“Please be careful because there are many of these now,” he said, adding that the NBI has already identified some individuals allegedly involved in such schemes and is monitoring them.
Matibag also cautioned against inflammatory and extreme statements circulating online related to the case, warning that such rhetoric could mislead the public and aggravate tensions.
He expressed concern that some individuals may be influenced by calls encouraging violence or self-sacrifice in support of political beliefs, saying authorities are closely monitoring activities that could lead to public disorder.
Mayors speak out
Also on Monday, the Mayors for Good Governance questioned the prolonged absence of dela Rosa from Senate sessions, saying ordinary workers would face penalties for the same conduct while still receiving government pay.
In a statement, the group said dela Rosa was allegedly absent for about seven months before appearing again on May 14, 2026, to vote in the change of Senate leadership.
The organization said the senator continued receiving an estimated monthly salary of about P300,000, which it said could already total about P2.1 million during the period of absence.
“For Filipino workers, the rule is ‘no work, no pay.’ If an ordinary employee did this, whether in government or the private sector, he would surely face suspension or dismissal from work. Why does the law seem different when powerful officials are involved?” the group said.
The group said such alleged neglect of duty was unacceptable for officials being paid by taxpayers while Filipinos continue to face high prices, poverty, and livelihood difficulties.
“It is a huge insult to millions of Filipinos who continue striving and enduring hardships just to support themselves and their families,” the statement read.
The organization also called on senators not to allow the Senate to become “a refuge for absenteeism and cover-ups,” saying elected officials should not be protected while allegedly avoiding their responsibilities and continuing to receive salaries from public funds.
“The lawmakers themselves should lead in following the law, especially the spirit behind why laws were created — for accountability, integrity, and the welfare of the Filipino people,” the group added.
