PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Friday gave a one-week ultimatum for Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to surrender to authorities.
Nartatez made the ultimatum shortly after Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla offered a P50 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Dela Rosa. Remulla noted that a task force, headed by PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez, had been established to track down and apprehend the lawmaker.
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief who spearheaded the anti-drug campaign under the previous administration. He was named as a co-conspirator in the crimes against humanity case filed against former President Rodrigo Duterte before the ICC.
“Senator Bato has one week to surrender,” Nartatez said, adding that the PNP has “contingencies” in place.
“We are giving him an option to surrender. That is the best thing to do, isn’t it, to surrender?” he also said.
Nartatez explained that the task force under Lopez has intelligence and tactical teams, along with other resources, to locate Dela Rosa and “deliver him to the Department of Justice.”
He also reiterated his warning against groups or individuals who might be harboring the senator.
“Whoever coddling and protecting him shall face the consequences (of their actions). The consequences, of course, are said in the law,” the PNP chief added.
Nartatez also said they are currently verifying information from various sources indicating that Dela Rosa is hiding in Mindanao.