No direct order for PNP to arrest Bato dela Rosa amid ICC arrest warrant, spox says

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it has yet to receive a direct order to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa amid the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier Randulf Tuaño said the National Central Bureau-Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (NCB-PCTC) has not yet convened concerned agencies involved in ICC warrant implementation.

“Sa ngayon po nilinaw natin sa Director ng Legal Service. Hindi pa po nako-convene ang NCB-PCTC kaugnay ng pag-implement ng ICC warrant po,” Tuaño said.

(For now, we have clarified with the Director of Legal Service. The NCB-PCTC has not yet been convened regarding the implementation of the ICC warrant.)

READ: Who is Bato dela Rosa?

“Meaning po, wala pang specific na direct na kautusan sa PNP para po siya ay arestuhin,” he added.

(Meaning, there is no specific direct order yet to the PNP for him to be arrested.)

No lawful directive

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also said that the police organization “has not received any official communication or lawful directive from the appropriate government authorities regarding the matter.”

He added that the PNP is not in a position to issue further comment pending proper verification and coordination through the appropriate channels.

“The PNP emphasizes that any report regarding an alleged ICC warrant remains subject to existing laws, due process, and proper coordination with the concerned government agencies and relevant international law enforcement mechanisms,” Nartatez said.

"For its part, the PNP remains prepared to act in accordance with lawful directives and established procedures, while continuing coordination with the appropriate authorities on the matter,” he added.

ICC warrant

Tuaño, meanwhile, said there are two possible processes for implementing an ICC warrant, the extradition proceeding and the direct surrender.

Under the extradition proceeding, a court order and hearings led by the Department of Justice are required. This would take a long time, according to the PNP official.

On the other hand, direct surrender under the “Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity” involves coordination through Interpol and NCB-PCTC.

He said the direct surrender process was the same framework used in the arrest and transfer of former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands.

Under the direct surrender process, the NCB-PCTC would coordinate with the PNP, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on how Interpol Manila would implement the ICC warrant.

Tuaño, meanwhile, said the PNP was not privy to the NBI’s instructions.

He pointed out that the police organization would not leave the arrest operation to another agency just because Dela Rosa is a former PNP chief.

“Nais po natin linawin na hindi na ipinauubaya sa ibang agency yung pag-aresto po kay Senator Bato dela Rosa. Sapagkat sinabi ko nga po, doon sa apat na ahensya, ang maaaring i-tap ng NCB-PCTC Manila ay NBI at yung pong PNP para i-assist yung Interpol Manila,” he said.

(We want to clarify that the arrest operation for Senator Bato dela Rosa is not being transferred to other agencies. Because as I said, out of the four agencies, the ones that NCB-PCTC Manila can tap are the NBI and the PNP to assist Interpol Manila,” he said.

“Wala pong kinalaman sapagkat alam naman po natin, lalo't higit na nang umupo yung ating Chief PNP noong August, si [Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.], na napaka-professional ng PNP,” he added.

(It has nothing to do with it because we know, especially since our PNP Chief took office in August, Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., that the PNP is very professional.)

According to him, the PNP may also ask Dela Rosa to peacefully surrender if needed to ensure orderly implementation of the warrant and avoid violence.

He added that the CIDG case involving dela Rosa would proceed separately, with legal developments expected during the May 14 proceeding.

Dela Rosa on Tuesday said that they will exhaust all means to prevent his arrest to face the case filed against him with the ICC.

"We will exhaust all available means, legal means kailangang gawin natin lahat para hindi nila tayo madala doon sa The Hague," Dela Rosa said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

"Sino bang Pilipino na gustong litisin sa ibang bansa?" he added.

Malacañang also said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would ensure that Dela Rosa is given protection in accordance with the law.

“Maski ang mga [extrajudicial] victims ay humihingi ng proteksyon... Ang akusado katulad ni Sen. Bato ay bibigyan ng proteksyon na naaayon sa batas,” Castro said.

(Even EJK victims are asking for protection... The accused, such as Sen. Bato, will be given protection in accordance with the law.)

300 cops

The PNP, meanwhile, said the Southern Police District (SPD) remains focused on crowd and traffic control around the Senate.

During the press briefing, SPD chief Police Brigadier General Glenn Oliver Cinco said around 300 cops have been deployed at the Senate for security amid protests and heightened tensions in the area.

He said around 300 protesters had been gathering outside the Senate since Monday, with authorities monitoring the situation overnight.

Some minor incidents were reported, including protesters allegedly throwing mineral water bottles as well as splashing water on the windshields of vehicles leaving the Senate compound, according to Cinco.

A vehicle with a sound system reportedly linked to supporters of former congressman Mike Defensor was removed to prevent obstruction at Senate entrances and exits, he added.

Maximum tolerance will be observed, the SPD chief said.

The PNP also warned the public against fake social media posts about the ICC arrest warrant implementation against Dela Rosa. —VAL, GMA News