PNP: No feelers yet from Dela Rosa; ‘violent, dangerous’ encounter possible

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday it had yet to receive feelers from Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa as it aimed to prevent any potential “violent and dangerous” encounter in the manhunt against him. 

PNP Public Information Office chief PCol. Allen Rae Co said a dedicated task force was formed to track down the senator, following an order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to intensify the manhunt.

“Acting on the orders from no less than the President himself to intensify the manhunt for Senator Dela Rosa ay nagtayo tayo ng mga dedicated tracker teams for the purpose, and the full force of the PNP is in play para to bring the justice within the folds of the law,” Co said. 

The task force is headed by PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Joseph Wilson Lopez and includes personnel from the Special Action Force (SAF). 

Co said the police were still finalizing the details of the dedicated tracker teams.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier offered a P50-million bounty for information that could lead to Dela Rosa’s arrest, making him the country’s most wanted person.

The PNP is giving Dela Rosa one week to surrender voluntarily, with the period starting Friday and ending this week. 

Co said the window is intended to give the senator an opportunity to face the legal process peacefully and with dignity.

“‘Yung one week na binigay for him to be able to surrender ay ito ay sign of goodwill for him to be able to end this with dignity. Of course, the PNP always prefers to have this a peaceful resolution,” he said. 

The police, he added, would welcome efforts by minority senators who have offered to serve as intermediaries to facilitate Dela Rosa’s possible surrender. 

The PNP said it would coordinate with them if they proceed with the initiative.

Co said the intensified manhunt also aims to protect all parties involved, including Dela Rosa, police personnel and the public. 

He clarified that warnings about a possible bloody encounter were meant to emphasize the risks of violence during the operation, not to suggest that thousands of people would literally be killed.

“It’s not literal naman na 10,000 ang masasawi. The point that he is trying to make is potentially talaga very violent and dangerous ang pwedeng magiging encounter in the course of the arrest of the senator or executing the warrant of arrest,” Co said.

“We want to protect all parties involved or all parties concerned to avoid ‘yung potentially dangerous na encounter if ever na possible na mangyari,” he added. 

The senator’s classification as armed and dangerous would not mean police would use greater violence against him, Co said. 

Instead, it would affect the operational plan, the number of personnel deployed and the firepower needed to carry out the arrest.

Co also said fewer than 100 firearms associated with Dela Rosa have yet to be surrendered following the revocation of their registrations or licenses.

He said the assessment of whether an individual is armed and dangerous takes into account the possibility that the person may resist arrest or refuse to surrender. 

Based on the latest information gathered by authorities, Dela Rosa is still believed to be in the country.

Co said the PNP continues to verify the senator’s last known whereabouts as part of its standard manhunt procedures.

He declined to disclose whether anyone had already provided information to authorities following the announcement of the bounty, saying it was premature to discuss the matter.

The PNP has yet to establish a dedicated hotline for people who may have information about Dela Rosa’s whereabouts. 

For now, Co advised the public to approach local authorities, who can direct them to the appropriate office.

Co said the PNP stands by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s position on the legality of the P50-million bounty, following questions from Dela Rosa’s camp about its legal basis.

He acknowledged that different parties could have their own legal interpretations but said the police would stand by the DILG’s position on the matter.

“We stand with the pronouncement of the SILG. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion as well as the legal interpretation, but we stand with the SILG as to the legality of this bounty,” Co maintained.

Asked whether Dela Rosa would be taken directly to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if arrested, Co said authorities would still have to determine the process to be followed.’