MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., on Thursday said they have intelligence reports that Sen. Ronald dela Rosa is still in the Philippines.
“We are looking at the different places, his known whereabouts, of friends, relatives, as well as kung sino 'yung lagi niyang kasama (who he's always with). Most probably, he is still here in the Philippines,” Nartatez told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
Nartatez confirmed that they were receiving information on the senator “daily” which they would validate before it gets classified as a reliable intelligence report.
“Yeah, always, from time to time. On a daily basis, meron tayong mga information na natatanggap (we are receiving information). And these [pieces of] information is a pina-process natin (being processed) such that these become intelligence. That's how to use intelligence,” he added.
News of Dela Rosa’s alleged arrest came out Tuesday afternoon but law enforcement authorities, including Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag and the PNP chief himself, all dismissed the rumors as “fake news.”
Palace Press Secretary Claire Castro said the fake news was only a ‘diversionary tactic” and has ordered the agency's anti-fake news desk to investigate the source and spread of the false information.
Castro said the government was also studying possible penalties against those responsible.
Dela Rosa has been in hiding since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him over his alleged role in the Duterte administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign.
