Mindanao governors pledge to cooperate on Dela Rosa manhunt
Ronald Dela Rosa speaks to the media during an ambush interview at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File MANILA — The search for International Criminal Court (ICC)-wanted Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa continues, with Mindanao governors and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) chief minister pledging their cooperation.
“They made a commitment that the BARMM area, in Mindanao the other governors also, that they will not allow, na ang kanilang lugar na pagtaguan ng those who are fugitive from justice,” National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously said Dela Rosa is hiding in Mindanao.
Matibag said the governors and BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua have assured their commitment to providing and securing relevant information should Dela Rosa be spotted in their respective localities.
The NBI director added that Mindanao local government units have expressed “categorical denial” of the speculation that Dela Rosa may be with political or militant groups.
He said the NBI will validate the information.
Dela Rosa was last seen in May this year at the Senate building, where he escaped from protective custody hours after a shootout took place.
He is wanted by the ICC for being the key architect and implementer of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs.”