PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Monday said there is no need to form a special unit to locate and arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Nartatez made the statement after two weeks of efforts to find Dela Rosa, who is subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Dela Rosa has been named as one of the co-perpetrators of former President Rodrigo Duterte in the crimes against humanity case before the ICC.
The former PNP chief evaded authorities on May 14 after leaving the Senate premises before law enforcers could serve the arrest warrant.
At a press briefing in Camp Crame, Nartatez said police operatives are working around the clock to locate Dela Rosa and other wanted persons across the country.
“For the information of everyone, there are 500,000 plus wanted persons covered with warrants of arrest,” Nartatez said.
“Each and every policeman is working. There is no need to create another manhunt team to track down Senator Bato because there are existing units,” he added.
Nartatez said the PNP is pursuing “all possible leads” and information on Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.
The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, one of the key units pursuing Dela Rosa, said it has leads on the senator’s possible location, echoing an earlier statement by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
“I already answered that the last time. It’s an operational undertaking which I cannot reveal, but of course we have leads,” CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said.
Morico said the CIDG is also working to identify other people who may be helping Dela Rosa evade arrest.
The CIDG has referred to the Department of Justice an obstruction of justice complaint against Sen. Robin Padilla and five other individuals for allegedly facilitating Dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate premises on May 14.
Asked about areas where Dela Rosa may have gone, Morico said all information received by authorities is being validated.
“All information that are coming in are being validated. There will be no stone left unturned,” Morico said.