PNP checks 500 leads, searches even remote islands for Dela Rosa

MANILA (UPDATE) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is checking around 500 leads on the possible whereabouts of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, including remote islands, as authorities continue efforts to serve the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Monday that police personnel are conducting validation and operations in various parts of the country.

“There are not less than 500 information na dumating na and those were properly validated, pinuntahan natin. Different areas from Western, Eastern Mindanao, Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Northern or Central Luzon,” Nartatez said.

Nartatez even recalled receiving information about an island he had never heard of before, which police personnel also visited as part of the search.

“And even [an] island that I haven’t heard na nun ko lang narinig at inikot ng ating mga pulis, including our personnel and even islands or places na pwede mong lakarin within four hours or you need to cross 11 rivers,” he added.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has offered a P50-million reward for information that could lead to Dela Rosa’s arrest.

Nartatez said the PNP is also engaging local communities and government officials to help locate the senator, stressing that maintaining peace and order is a shared responsibility.

Asked about concerns that political connections of police officials in Davao could be affecting the search, Nartatez said the PNP is continuously validating reports of possible interference.

“Everyone is reminded to be professional and pagka-nalaman natin ‘yan and if evidence warrants, sila ay mapaparusahan or an administrative case will be leveled. Not only administrative, but criminal case and it works,” he warned.

The PNP chief expressed hope that Dela Rosa would soon be arrested, saying fugitives cannot hide indefinitely as their movements and possible locations become increasingly limited.

“Hindi naman habambuhay magtatago ang isang fugitive inasmuch as nali-limit ‘yung kanyang pinupuntahan,” Nartatez stressed.

He assured that the PNP, together with other law enforcement agencies, continues to work around the clock to implement the arrest warrants against Dela Rosa and other high-profile fugitives.