Malacañang on Monday said the manhunt and efforts to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa would continue should he fail to surrender within the one-week deadline set by the Philippine National Police (PNP) following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him in connection with the war on drugs of the Duterte administration.
“Hindi man sumurrender si Senator Bato sa palugit na one week, tuloy-tuloy ang operasyon,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in an interview by Radyo Pilipinas.
Castro added that PNP chief police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., himself, had said and made it clear that the operation would continue regardless of Dela Rosa’s decision.
She said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla had also said that there should be “no mercy” as the government must enforce the law and arrest those who should be arrested regardless of who they are, their position or their standing in society.
Dela Rosa served as PNP chief under the Duterte administration and led the anti-illegal drugs campaign including Operation: Tokhang, which had reportedly resulted in several deaths.
He was charged alongside former president Rodrigo Duterte in the crime against humanity complaint filed before the ICC in connection with the drug war.
As this developed, Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had nothing to do with the P50-million bounty offered by the government for information that would lead to the arrest of Dela Rosa.
She said it was part of the strategy and operation of the DILG and the PNP.
“Hindi po ‘yan manggagaling mismo sa pangulo dahil ito po ay strategy, operasyon ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla at pamunuan ng PNP,” Castro also said.
Castro said the bounty is being sourced from the intelligence and confidential funds of the DILG and the PNP.
Remulla, on October 23, announced the P50-million reward on information that would lead to the arrest of Dela Rosa who he had described as “armed and dangerous.”
Castro, meanwhile, said it is up to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) if Dela Rosa’s wealth would be investigated or frozen.