The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Monday served a subpoena on Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to police operations in the Davao region.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla confirmed that copies of the subpoena were delivered to both Dela Rosa’s office and residence at around 9 a.m.
“It was served at his office and at his residence at around 9 o’clock this morning,” Remulla said during a press briefing.
The subpoena, dated May 10 and signed by CIDG director Major General Nicolas Torre Morico II, directs the senator to appear on Thursday before Lt. Col. Jerome Jay Ragonton, officer-in-charge of the CIDG Major Crimes Investigation Unit.
The document ordered Dela Rosa to “clarify matters, execute a sworn statement/affidavit, submit documents and/or other relevant information” in connection with the investigation.
It also warned that failure to comply without valid justification could lead to the filing of an indirect contempt case.
According to Remulla, the subpoena forms part of a broader CIDG investigation into more than 100 alleged EJK cases reported in the Davao region during the period when Dela Rosa served as a police official there.
The DILG chief stressed, however, that the CIDG investigation is separate from the crimes against humanity case pending before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former president Rodrigo Duterte, where Dela Rosa has been named as one of the alleged co-perpetrators.
“A subpoena is merely an interview,” Remulla said in a message to reporters.
“He was once chief PNP. He knows what the subpoena is for. There is no reason to be apprehensive. The ICC matter is another matter. That’s beyond my control,” he added.
A CIDG report showed that operatives from CIDG Regional Field Unit 11 arrived at Dela Rosa’s residence in Davao City at around 8:30 a.m. to serve the subpoena, with barangay officials witnessing the procedure.
Investigators said they made “reasonable efforts” to personally hand the document to the senator, but he was reportedly not at the residence during the visit.
The subpoena was instead received by the caretaker of the property, who acknowledged receipt in the presence of barangay officials but allegedly declined to sign the document.
“The subpoena was successfully served through substituted service upon a person of suitable age and discretion residing at the address of Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa,” the CIDG report stated.
Police also noted that no untoward incident occurred during the service of the subpoena.
Dela Rosa has largely stayed out of public view since November last year after reports circulated that the ICC had supposedly issued a warrant against him following remarks made by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. The supposed warrant was never officially confirmed.
Fresh claims again surfaced over the weekend alleging that the ICC had released an arrest warrant against the senator, but the tribunal later clarified that no such warrant had been issued.