PNP awaits DOJ guidance on Bato Dela Rosa arrest

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday it is waiting for instruction from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the possible implementation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) denied issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa.

The SC also said that it only resolved the requests for interim relief, particularly the TRO and SQAO, and has yet to rule on the main legal issues, such as whether Philippine officers may enforce an ICC warrant without a Philippine judicial warrant and whether it can be implemented despite the country's exit from the tribunal.

“Hihintayin ni Chief PNP yung legal advice ng ating director ng Legal Service. Sa ngayon, hindi pa natin mako-confirm o made-deny yung nasabing usapin kung i-effect ng PNP o hindi ang nasabing ICC warrant,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said at a press briefing.

(The Chief PNP will await the legal advice of our Legal Service director. For now, we cannot confirm or deny the said matter whether the PNP will effect the said ICC warrant or not.

“Habang wala pang kautusan sa Philippine National Police, either kino-confirm namin ito o hindi, maghihintay lang kami ng kautusan sa DOJ,” he added.

(While there is no order yet to the Philippine National Police, either we are confirming it or not, we will just wait for the order from the DOJ.)

Tuaño said the police force would respect legal processes and defer to concerned agencies regarding developments on the matter.

“Minamabuti ng PNP na igalang ang mga legal na proseso at hahayaan na lamang ang mga kaukulang ahensya para magbigay ng kaukulang impormasyon tungkol sa usapin ng ICC warrant at whereabouts ni Senator Bato dela Rosa,” he said.

(The PNP decided to respect legal processes and leave it to the relevant agencies to provide relevant information regarding the matter of the ICC warrant and whereabouts of Senator Bato dela Rosa.)

The PNP has sufficient personnel and units capable of serving an arrest warrant, Tuaño said.

“May sapat na numero, specific na unit ang PNP para i-effect ang isang warrant of arrest kahit kanino man. Ito man ay maging senador o hindi,” he said.

(The PNP has enough numbers, specific units to effect an arrest warrant against anyone. Whether it's a senator or not.)

Tuaño identified the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as the PNP unit that would likely carry out such an arrest operation against Dela Rosa if ordered. — RSJ, GMA News