The world of fugitive Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa is getting smaller following the government’s offer of a P50-million reward for his capture.
This is what Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Thursday.
At a briefing in Bukidnon, Castro said operations to capture dela Rosa are ongoing, but she could not disclose details to avoid compromising them.
‘Totoo na lumiliit ang mundo ni Senator Bato (It is true that the world of Senator Bato is getting smaller),’ she said when asked for information about the senator’s capture.
She explained that this is ‘because anyone who spots him can immediately report the information to the PNP [Philippine National Police] and other law enforcement agencies.’
‘NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] Director Matibag has also said that he has been receiving information about the whereabouts of Senator Bato dela Rosa,’ she noted.
Castro also defended the need to offer a prize for dela Rosa’s capture after Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson questioned the need for a cash reward for information that will lead to his fellow senator’s arrest.
She said the money will come from the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s intelligence funds.
‘The money will not be spent if it did not produce results because they would be questioned about it,’ the Palace spokesperson remarked.
‘So, as Senator Lacson said, if the location is already known, if you were Senator Bato and you knew that your location had been identified, wouldn’t you move somewhere else to avoid getting caught?’ she asked.
‘The manhunt continues. The pursuit of Senator Bato dela Rosa continues. Wherever he goes, those who need to be apprehended must be caught,’ she repeated.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against dela Rosa for his role as the national police chief during then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs from 2016 to 2018.
He was named a co-perpetrator in the ICC’s investigation on crimes against humanity.
Dela Rosa went into hiding after reappearing at the Senate last May 11.