Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday said fugitive senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa should surrender and those supposedly protecting and hiding him should follow the law.
The call was made following the warning by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla that a bloody confrontation may result if authorities try to arrest Dela Rosa, who is reportedly being protected by an armed group in Mindanao.
“Sumuko ka na kasi para wala nang dugong dadanak and at the same time doon sa mga nagkakanlong, alam po natin na dapat nating pairalin ang batas,” Castro said.
She said no one should allow themselves to be used as a tool by those who should be held accountable under the law.
“Huwag po kayong magsilbing tulay para makaalpas ang mga masasabi nating taong may dapat na kaharapin sa mga taong kanilang diumanong nabiktima,” Castro also added.
Castro, meanwhile, said that it should be considered a national security threat if it is true that a powerful armed group in Mindanao is hiding and protecting Dela Rosa.
“Definitely, absolutely, dahil itong mga ganitong klaseng grupo, although wala tayong personal na kaalaman kung anong grupo ito… sila ang sumisira sa institusyon, sila ang gumigiba sa pagpapatupad ng batas,” she said.
Castro also said these groups should be held liable for abusing the law.
Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant before the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the drug war under the previous administration.