The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has acknowledged that arresting Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa presents a greater challenge than the apprehension of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag said authorities were able to arrest Duterte relatively easily because they were able to anticipate his arrival in the Philippines after an overseas trip.
Matibag explained that Duterte was apprehended after authorities waited for him to disembark from an aircraft, while dela Rosa was able to take measures to evade authorities following developments that placed him under scrutiny.
The NBI chief described the manhunt for dela Rosa as “mas challenging,” citing the senator’s ability to immediately find ways to hide, including following the shooting incident at the Senate on May 13.
Despite the difficulties, Matibag assured the public that dela Rosa would not be able to evade the law indefinitely.
He said NBI operatives have already identified a limited number of areas where the senator could potentially be hiding and expressed confidence that their operations would eventually locate him.
When asked whether dela Rosa was hiding in Mindanao, Matibag declined to confirm or deny the information, saying that revealing details about the senator’s possible location could compromise the ongoing manhunt.
Meanwhile, Matibag said the NBI has received positive reports indicating that another co-accused of Duterte in the ICC case involving alleged crimes against humanity remains in the Philippines.
The NBI continues to coordinate intelligence and law enforcement efforts as authorities work to locate dela Rosa while keeping operational details confidential to avoid jeopardizing the manhunt.
