No special treatment will be given to Bato dela Rosa, PNP says

The Philippine National Police said Thursday there will be no special treatment for Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa amid the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him for alleged crimes against humanity.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. made the assurance during a Palace briefing.

“Wala po tayong (We have no) special treatment. We implement the law without fear or favor,” Nartatez said.

He explained that when it comes to implementing warrants of arrest, the PNP is always backed up by strong law enforcement agencies, particularly the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Following the commotion at the Senate on Wednesday night, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said there was no instruction given to anyone to arrest Dela Rosa.

This was reiterated by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during Thursday's press conference.

“Walang operasyon ang NBI o PNP na arestuhin si Senator Bato,” Castro said.

(There is no operation by the NBI or PNP to arrest Senator Bato.)

A former PNP chief, Dela Rosa is no longer in the Senate according to a senator who refused to be identified.

According to the senator, a member of the Senate secretariat said Dela Rosa left the Senate premises early Thursday morning. The secretariat staff also said Dela Rosa exited at around 2:30 a.m.

Dela Rosa was last seen with his staff as they boarded an elevator on Wednesday. He came from the office of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Dela Rosa resurfaced just last Monday after being gone for six months. — RSJ, GMA News