Arresting Bato dela Rosa a challenge for DILG, police to fulfill mandate — Palace
Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the Manila Police District headquarters stand at attention during the Friday flag lowering ceremony on April 14, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News MANILA — Arresting Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is a challenge to the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to fulfill their law enforcement mandate, the Palace said.
Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief and a Philippine Military Academy alumnus, is believed to have police and military connections as well as the protection of an armed group in Mindanao.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro acknowledged Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s assessment that dela Rosa’s network makes his arrest “more difficult” but said that is the challenge to law enforcement.
“Ang inyong mandato ay magpatupad ng batas, magpapatupad ng ibinibigay sa inyong order nang naaayon naman sa Konstitusyon,” she added.
(Your mandate is to enforce the law, to implement orders given that are within the Constitution.)
Castro reminded the police force that there is an active arrest warrant for Dela Rosa.
“So hindi puwede na kayo ang magdesisyon kung huhulihin ninyo o hindi ninyo huhulihin si Senator Bato dela Rosa hindi dahil siya ay dati ninyong naging chief,” she said.
(It is not up to you whether or not to arrest Sen. Bato dela Rosa because he is your former chief.)
The Palace official also expressed confidence in PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who is also a PMA alumnus.
She said the administration knows that Nartatez puts obligation and duty before friendship and alliances.
“So, again, naniniwala tayo sa kagalingan ng ating kapulisan at alam po natin na tutuparin nila kung ano ang mandato na inihahain sa kanila,” she said.
(We believe that the police are capable and know that they will fulfill whatever mandate they are given.)
She said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has not indicated frustration that Dela Rosa has yet to be found “as long as he sees the police and the DILG leadership are doing their duty.”
Castro said it would be a different scenario if it is found that police personnel have been shielding the former PNP chief.
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.