MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has offered a P50-million reward for information that could lead to the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the reward during a press conference on Friday, describing the senator as “armed and dangerous” as authorities seek to locate him.
“As of today, Senator Bato [dela Rosa] will be considered armed and dangerous. We are placing a bounty of P50 million for his capture,” Remulla said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has given Dela Rosa one week to surrender to authorities. Remulla said the government had extended what he described as the appropriate courtesies to the senator but accused him of remaining in hiding.
“We have given [Dela Rosa] all the courtesy that could be afforded as a senator of the Republic of the Philippines. But he has shown nothing but cowardice by remaining in hiding,” Remulla said.
“Sen. Bato mistook my negotiation as a sign of weakness. It’s time to bring justice to his victims,” he added.
DELA ROSA REMAINS WANTED OVER ALLEGED DRUG WAR KILLINGS
Dela Rosa has reportedly been in hiding since leaving the Senate in May, when authorities sought to enforce the ICC arrest warrant concerning his alleged role in killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The ICC unsealed the warrant on May 11, citing reasonable grounds to believe that Dela Rosa was responsible for the crime against humanity of murder in connection with the anti-drug campaign. The allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
The DILG’s reward announcement and the PNP’s surrender deadline mark the latest developments in the government’s efforts to locate the senator and enforce the warrant.
Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2018 under former President Rodrigo Duterte and was a prominent official during the administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The ICC investigation into the Philippines’ situation concerns alleged crimes against humanity committed during the campaign. The issuance of an arrest warrant reflects the court’s assessment of the applicable legal threshold at that stage; it is not, by itself, a final determination of guilt.