Viral Dela Rosa cemetery photo taken 3 years ago — PNP

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday dismissed reports that Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa was supposedly spotted at a cemetery in Digos City, Davao del Sur, saying the photo circulating on social media was taken three years ago.

PCol. Allen Rae Co, PNP Public Information Office chief, said the police technical team verified the photo, with its original owner also confirming that it was taken three years ago.

“It was confirmed by our tech team it was an old picture, luma na ito, and the one who posted himself or the owner of the picture himself commented na ito ay 3 years ago na,” Co said.

“Wala pong katotohanan na nagpakita siya,” he added.

Co warned that individuals spreading false information, particularly those intended to mislead authorities or obstruct the ongoing manhunt for Dela Rosa, could face consequences.

He reiterated that the police were investigating all information reaching their hotlines, but declined to disclose details of the leads or the identities of informants, citing operational confidentiality.

He reminded the public that deliberately flooding the hotline with false information or providing misleading tips could expose them to possible criminal charges.

Co also defended the need for operational secrecy in the manhunt, agreeing with Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s remarks that confidentiality was crucial to the operation.

Co dismissed claims circulating online that the PNP had issued a shoot-to-kill order against Dela Rosa.

“Wala pong shoot-to-kill na inilalabas. Again, uulitin ko po, wala pong inilalabas na shoot-to-kill order,” he stressed.

He assured the public that police operations would remain within the bounds of the law.

Asked about reports that police had visited the residences of people close to Dela Rosa, Co said authorities would naturally look into places frequently visited by a wanted person.

Co also maintained that the senator is still believed to be in the Philippines, based on the PNP’s latest information as of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Malacañang challenged the leadership of the PNP and its more than 200,000-strong police force to remain true to their mandate in the ongoing manhunt operations for Dela Rosa.

This was in response to the reported statement of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla in a television interview that Dela Rosa’s connections as former PNP chief and Philippine Military Academy alumnus were making his arrest “more difficult.”

“Kung ito po ang opinyon ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla, malamang mayroon siyang nararamdaman, mayroon siyang napapansin,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing Tuesday.

“Pero ito ay hamon mismo sa liderato ng DILG, sa liderato mismo ng PNP at sa buong kapulisan dito sa ating bansa. Ang inyong mandato ay magpatupad ng batas, magpapatupad ng ibinibigay sa inyong order nang naaayon naman sa Konstitusyon,” she added.

Castro reminded the police force that there was an active arrest warrant against Dela Rosa that they should implement.

The Palace official expressed confidence in PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. despite being Dela Rosa’s fellow PMA graduate.  

“Kilala po natin mismo si General Nartatez Jr. at alam natin na ang nangunguna sa kaniya ay ang kaniyang obligasyon, hindi ang kaniyang pakikipagkaibigan o pakikipag-alyado sa sinuman dapat na arestuhin,” Castro said.

Asked if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had expressed frustration over the manhunt operations, Castro responded, “Sa ngayon ay hindi po nakikitaan ng anumang frustration ang ating Pangulo, hangga’t nakikita niya po na tumutupad sa tungkulin ang ating mga kapulisan at ang liderato ng DILG.”

“Ang mahirap lamang po diyan kung talagang makikita at mapapatunayan na mismong mga pulis ang nagkakanlong para hindi mahuli si Senator Bato dela Rosa,” she added.

Dela Rosa, who was given until October 30 to surrender, remains in hiding to evade an arrest that will send him to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, the Netherlands.