PAF: No aircraft on standby for Bato transfer amid ICC warrant

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday denied social media claims that an aircraft was on standby at Villamor Air Base to transport Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to The Hague, Netherlands, amid the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrant against him.

In a press briefing, PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Christina Basco said the Air Force has not received any official directive, coordination, or request for such an operation.

“The PAF has not received any official directive. Actually, ngayon po we are on white alert status,” she said.

(The PAF has not received any official directive. Right now, we are on white alert status.)

“We are undergoing normal air operations, routine operations. And that is our current status at Villamor Air Base,” she added.

In military parlance, a "white alert" usually means personnel are alert, assets are ready if needed, and operations are being closely monitored, while normal activities continue.

It is generally considered a lower-level alert compared with “red alert,” which signals an imminent or ongoing emergency.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad also addressed circulating social media posts claiming that a Gulfstream aircraft was allegedly on standby for Dela Rosa.

He said the images being shared online were outdated and unrelated to the current situation.

“These are images of a previous situation, hindi po iyon ngayon (that is not current) for that particular incident,” Trinidad said.

The ICC on Monday confirmed that the tribunal had issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in connection with killings linked to the war on drugs.

On March 11 last year, Duterte was brought to Villamor Air Base and later flown to The Hague following an ICC arrest warrant against him.

Dela Rosa is currently under Senate protective custody. He said on Tuesday that he and his allies would exhaust all legal means to prevent his arrest.

“We will exhaust all available means, legal means. Kailangang gawin natin lahat para hindi nila tayo madala doon sa The Hague,” Dela Rosa said.

(We will exhaust all available legal means. We have to do everything so they cannot take me to The Hague.)

He also said his camp had filed a new manifestation before the Supreme Court seeking immediate judicial protection, and that he would await the court’s decision.—MCG, GMA News