President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered law enforcement agencies to swiftly arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa while ensuring that the operation remains lawful and does not result in loss of life, Malacañang said.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Saturday, October 24, that Marcos supports the efforts of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and law enforcement agencies to enforce the law.
“No one must die in the arrest of Senator Bato but they should not resist because our police force will not back down,” Castro said.
The statement came after the government announced a ₱50-million bounty for information leading to Dela Rosa’s arrest and gave the senator one week to surrender.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities would continue efforts to locate Dela Rosa, who is wanted under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
Remulla urged the senator to surrender, saying authorities would accord him the rights and protections provided under the law.
Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Israelito Torreon, questioned the legality of the bounty, arguing that the absence of a local court-issued arrest warrant raised concerns about the government’s actions.
Remulla, however, maintained that the ICC warrant and an Interpol Red Notice supported the ongoing operation.
