The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has denied protecting Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying there is no verified evidence that the senator is under its custody.

In a statement posted online Sunday, Nov. 1, the group dismissed speculation that it was sheltering dela Rosa, who was reportedly hiding with a powerful armed group in Mindanao.

“The claim that the MNLF may be protecting him is speculation, not a confirmed fact,” the group said.

The MNLF acknowledged dela Rosa’s connections to people associated with the group, particularly through former President Rodrigo Duterte’s relationship with MNLF founder Nur Misuari.

However, it stressed that these connections do not prove that dela Rosa is an MNLF member or that the group is protecting him.

The organization also said its fragmented structure makes it uncertain whether Misuari’s faction could shield the senator from arrest.

The MNLF maintained that no verified evidence links the group to dela Rosa’s reported whereabouts.