Malacañang on Thursday defended the ₱50-million bounty offered for information leading to the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, saying the reward would come from the confidential and intelligence funds of agencies involved in the manhunt.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said the funds should be used to support law enforcement operations and produce results.
“Kung mayroon pong ibibigay na 50 million na bounty kung sino man ang makakabigay ng konkretong impormasyon sa kinaroroonan ni Sen. Bato dela Rosa ‘yan po naman ay parte ng kanilang intelligence funds, confidential funds,” Castro said.
“Ay, diyan po dapat ginagamit ang nasabing confidential funds, hindi kung saan-saan. Dapat mayroon itong resulta,” Castro said.
Castro addressed questions about the ongoing operation to locate dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had left the operation to arrest the senator to the law enforcement agencies concerned.
Castro declined to disclose specific details of the ongoing efforts to locate dela Rosa but said authorities continued to receive information about his possible whereabouts.
“Totoo na lumiliit ang mundo ni Sen. Bato dahil ang maaaring makakita sa kanya ay magbibigay ng impormasyon kaagad-agad sa PNP at sa ibang law enforcement agencies,” she said.
She also cited National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag’s statement that he had been receiving information about the senator’s whereabouts.
Castro deferred operational questions to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other law enforcement agencies.
“Patuloy po ang manhunt nito. Patuloy po ang pagtugis kay Sen. Bato Dela Rosa. Saan man siya pumunta, kailangan po na mahuli yung dapat na mahuli,” Castro said.
Dela Rosa served as PNP chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, overseeing the police force during the administration’s war on drugs. He is now the subject of an ongoing manhunt following an arrest warrant linked to alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the anti-drug campaign.
