The Malacañang clarified that the P50 million reward offered to speed up the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was part of the operational strategy of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), and was not ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the reward would come from the confidential and intelligence funds of the DILG and the PNP. According to her, the use of intelligence funds for such an operation is allowed under the law, provided that authorities can demonstrate that the operation will produce results, RH Leth Narciso reported.

When asked regarding the PNP’s one-week deadline for dela Rosa to surrender, Castro said authorities would continue pursuing the senator, even if he failed to turn himself in within the given period.

Last week, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced that it is offering a P50 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of the senator. PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also gave dela Rosa a one-week ultimatum.