Bato dela Rosa still in the Philippines — PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains in the country as authorities are set to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him.

At a press briefing, CIDG chief Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II said monitoring and enforcement preparations are ongoing.

“Senator Bato is still inside the country and we will enforce the warrant of arrest,” he said.

However, Morico refused to divulge more information on the whereabouts of the senator as this information is considered classified. The PNP earlier said tracker teams have been deployed to locate and arrest Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief.

Anyone who may assist Dela Rosa in evading arrest could be held liable for obstruction of justice, according to the CIDG.

“If there are resorts, houses or subdivisions, guards who will prevent us from implementing this warrant of arrest, we will be arresting them for obstruction of justice,” Morico said.

“That's why I am appealing also na kapag dumating doon ang mga reinforcement unit namin kagaya ng CIDG, do not prevent us because we have the warrant of arrest,” he added.

(That's why I am also appealing that when our reinforcement units like the CIDG arrive, do not prevent us because we have the warrant of arrest.)

On Thursday, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have been directed to arrest Dela Rosa amid the ICC arrest warrant in connection with the Duterte administration's drug war.

Dela Rosa served as PNP chief during the term of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is now detained in The Hague, Netherlands.

The PNP earlier said they have been alerted to be on the lookout and to intensify intelligence monitoring on all exit points, including the southern backdoor, regarding Dela Rosa's possible whereabouts. — RSJ, GMA News