Around 500 pieces of info on Bato dela Rosa whereabouts received — PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has received more than 500 pieces of information regarding the whereabouts of former senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Monday.

At a press briefing, Nartatez said the information had been validated and acted upon, prompting police operations in various parts of the country.

“There are not less than 500 information na dumating na and those were properly validated, pinuntahan po natin at in-operate po natin,” he said.

(There are not less than 500 information that have arrived and those were properly validated, we went there and operated.)

“From Western, Eastern Mindanao, Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Northern or Central Luzon. And even island that I haven't heard na ngayon ko lang narinig at inikot ng ating mga police,” he added.

(From Western, Eastern Mindanao, Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Northern or Central Luzon. And even islands that I haven't heard of, I just heard about it and our police went there.)

However, Dela Rosa was not found in the locations operated by the police as authorities continue the manhunt against the senator.

The PNP had deployed tracker teams and other personnel to pursue leads concerning Dela Rosa's whereabouts.

Nartatez said the police are working with other law enforcement agencies and intelligence units to implement arrest warrants against wanted individuals.

Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the crimes against humanity case arising from former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The senator is accused of being a co-perpetrator in the alleged crimes.

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) claimed that Dela Rosa was hiding in Mindanao under the protection of an “armed and powerful group,” but did not identify the group.

A P50-million reward is being offered for information that would lead to the senator’s arrest. — RSJ, GMA News