Bato dela Rosa heading to province on yacht? PNP mum on leads

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday declined to comment on reports that Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa may have traveled to a province aboard a yacht.

PNP Public Information Office acting chief Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said discussing police operations could compromise personnel and ongoing activities.

"We would not like to discuss prematurely any operations of the PNP [so] as not to compromise our personnel as well as the operation," Co said at a press briefing.

He made the statement after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it was verifying reports that the senator was seen on a yacht.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier confirmed that the tribunal has issued an arrest warrant for Dela Rosa in connection with the killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

While the Senate building was on lockdown and Dela Rosa was under the protective custody of the upper chamber on May 13, NBI agents and Senate security exchanged gunfire at the GSIS building where the legislative chamber was located.

Hours later, before dawn on May 14, Dela Rosa left the Senate premises.

Tracker teams have been deployed to locate and arrest the senator. — VDV, GMA News