National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag on Friday said that the agency will enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, following the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) order.
In a press conference, Matibag said in a press briefing that there is a clear instruction from the DOJ for law enforcement agencies to execute the ICC warrant.
“First of all, there’s already an order from DOJ for us to enforce the warrant issued by the ICC. So there’s no reading between the lines. Simple lang: we will enforce the warrant. If we see him, we’ll arrest him,” Matibag said, adding that a dedicated team is currently tracking the senator.
Matibag also pointed to complications involving the senator’s earlier placement under protective custody of the Senate, citing what he described as a prior “gentleman’s agreement” that the Senate would produce him if needed.
“That is the problem now because of yung nangyari na protective custody ng Senate. Because there was a gentleman's agreement, lalaking usapan, na pagka kailangan nang i-present si Senator Bato, the Senate will be the one to present him,” he said.
“Now that there is no TRO [temporary restraining order], ibig sabihin, walang status quo ante na binigay, ibig sabihin. The warrant is valid [and] it can be enforced,” Matibag added. “So, we don't have an explanation. If there's an ongoing actions that we are undertaking, of course, there's a dedicated team to look after him. And we will arrest him basta nakita namin siya.“
He further emphasized that coordination with other law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), is part of the ongoing nationwide operation.
The NBI clarified that once dela Rosa is located, he will be arrested and turned over to the DOJ for proper proceedings.
Matibag also appealed directly to the senator to surrender, noting his background in law enforcement.
“I have to appeal to Senator Bato, baka nanonood siya. Mas maganda siguro sumuko na lang siya kasi dalawang bagay lang naman ‘yan eh, arestuhin ka o sumuko ka. So it’s an option sumuko ka,” he said.
According to Matibag, the senator remains in the Philippines, as there is currently no official Bureau of Immigration (BI) record showing that he has left the country.
“Wala pa naman report ang Bureau of Immigration na lumabas siya so if we base it on that,” he noted.
Matibag did not answer whether dela Rosa may have already slipped out of the country through a backdoor exit.
When asked about a timeline for the operation, Matibag said there is none.
“We don't have a timeline because if we will see him today, we will arrest him today. If we will see him tomorrow or next week, we will arrest him,” he said.
He added that investigators are also retracing the senator’s movements after he left Senate protective custody following a shooting incident on May 13.
“But we are right now looking for him, kung paano siya umalis noon sa Senado, we're tracking him back,” he said.
Justice Secretary Frederick Vida earlier said the government’s “ultimate objective” is to bring dela Rosa before the ICC.
Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, played a key role in the administration’s anti-drug campaign, which has been the subject of ICC investigations into alleged crimes against humanity.
The DOJ, meanwhile, has ordered local authorities to carry out enforcement actions in line with the ICC directive.
As of now, dela Rosa remains at large, with authorities confirming that nationwide tracking operations are ongoing.
