DILG offers P50-M reward for arrest of 'armed and dangerous' Bato dela Rosa

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has raised a P50-million reward for the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who according to Interior Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla is now considered "armed and dangerous."

Remulla bared the bounty on Friday, two days after he said Dela Rosa is under the protection of a group in Mindanao, with whom the government is initiating negotiations. He said an operation to get the former Philippine National Police chief could result in 10,000 deaths.

“We have given him all the courtesy that can be afforded as a senator of the Republic of the Philippines, but he showed nothing but cowardice by going into and remaining in hiding. Senator Bato mistook my gesture of negotiation as a sign of weakness," Remulla said in a news conference.

GMA News Online is reaching out to Dela Rosa's camp and will publish his side as soon as it is available.

'Co-perpetrator'

Dela Rosa, who has a pending warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court for charges of crimes against humanity, was placed under the protective custody of the Senate when Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was Senate President on May 11. He last attended the Senate session on May 13.

He is charged before the ICC as a co-perpetrator with former President Rodrigo Duterte for cases of murder and attempted murder tied to the war on drugs of the latter's administration.

Both Duterte and Dela Rosa have denied the allegations against them.

Dela Rosa left the Senate before dawn on May 14, hours after a shooting incident in the chamber's premises.

Cayetano has since been replaced by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President.

"It's time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to give justice to his victims. As of today, Senator Bato will be considered armed and dangerous. We are placing a bounty of P50 million for his capture,” Remulla said.

'No mercy'

If he chose not to turn himself in to authorities, Remulla said in a text message that law enforcement would show “no mercy.”

According to Remulla, a task force has already been formed to track down and arrest the former police general.

Dela Rosa was given 10 days to surrender.

PNP chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force is prepared for whatever outcome the senator’s arrest might bring, whether peaceful or armed.

“The Philippine National Police is always ready for that, whether peaceful or it will come to an armed confrontation. Of course, we would like to have a peaceful confrontation,” Nartatez said.

“Pag sinabing madugo, it is our assumption kasi nga meron kang senator at maraming nagco-coddle, and the way we look at the area… these are secluded areas and diyan nangyayari ‘yung armed conflict before and so sinsabi natin na assumption that is madugo,” he added.

(When we say bloody, it is an assumption because you are dealing with a senator and many are coddling him. The way we look at the area... these are secluded areas where armed conflict has occurred before, which is why we assume it could turn bloody.)

'Option to surrender'

Nartatez explained that making such an assumption is necessary to craft a solid contingency plan.

He clarified that law enforcement agencies are not negotiating with Dela Rosa, but are merely giving him the option to surrender.

“Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-negotiate. We are giving him the option to surrender. Yon ang pinakamaganda, di ba, mag-surrender?” Nartatez said.

(We are not negotiating. We are giving him the option to surrender. That is the best outcome, isn't it—for him to surrender?)

'Hiding places'

At present, Nartatez said authorities have already searched and are continuously monitoring areas believed to be the senator's hiding spots, including several locations in Western Mindanao, Eastern Mindanao, Bicol, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Southern Tagalog.

Nartatez did not identify specific locations, but noted that PNP intelligence operatives had scoured potential hideouts across these regions.

The PNP chief warned that any group proven to have coddled and hidden Dela Rosa will face the full consequences of the law. –NB, GMA News