Bato dela Rosa asks for PNP custody, says Aplasca

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has asked to be placed under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca said on Thursday.

In a report on "24 Oras," Aplasca told GMA News that he heard the request when the senator met with Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., the head of the PNP, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, left the Senate premises early Thursday morning, hours after gunshots rang out at the Senate amid lockdown at the legislative chamber.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday evening that there was no instruction to arrest Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in relation to the crimes against humanity case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial campaign against illegal drugs.

The lawmaker was placed under the protective custody of the Senate on Monday after agents of the National Bureau of Investigation tried to serve him the arrest warrant. —VBL, GMA News