The Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said on Thursday it is ready to help police arrest Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, whose one-week ultimatum to surrender ends on Friday.
The former national police chief is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity during the bloody war on drugs during the Duterte administration.
Maj. Ruben Gadut, 10ID spokesperson, said their division is prepared to provide critical intelligence and logistical support to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the high-stakes pursuit of dela Rosa,
The 10ID’s area of operation (AOR) covers the Davao Region, where dela Rosa is a native.
In a Viber message to the Inquirer, Gadut deferred operational specifics to police leadership while confirming no sightings of dela Rosa in the Davao Region.
‘This is a matter of law enforcement. The PNP should be the appropriate agency to release statements [on the manhunt],’ Gadut said.
He corroborated statements made by the Police Regional Office-11 (PRO-11) during a media briefing at the Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday.
‘About sightings, PRO-11 stated yesterday in a media presscon at the Mandaya Hotel that there were no sightings in their AOR. I think that would suffice, coming from the PNP,’ Gadut added.
Last October 23, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla gave dela Rosa one week to surrender. He also announced a P50 million reward for the senator’s arrest.
Dela Rosa’s camp – led by legal counsel Israelito Torreon – warned that the P50-million bounty could spur vigilante action against the senator.
Torreon also assailed the bounty, saying that the senator is not wanted under Philippine laws.
Dela Rosa’s former commander-in-chief, ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, remains detained at the ICC Detention Center in The Hague, awaiting the opening of his trial on November 30 over the deadly war on drugs