Statement of Malacañang for Sen. Bato dela Rosa
Malacañang called on Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to surrender to the authorities to avoid “bloodshed”.
Sen. Dela Rosa remains at large amid the supposed arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him. He is one of the alleged co-perpetrators in the drug war of the Duterte administration.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was the first chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the administration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Amid his hiding, there are claims that Dela Rosa is allegedly protected by powerful people but the PNP expects that he will be captured soon.
The former PNP Chief has changed his stance over his possible ICC arrest multiple times. There were instances when he expressed willingness to be sent to The Hague, Netherlands where former Pres. Duterte is currently detained under the ICC custody.
There were also instances when Sen. Bato dela Rosa admitted that he considers hiding. In November 2025, when Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the ICC has allegedly released an arrest warrant against him, the Senator went into hiding.
Dela Rosa hid for six months before he appeared in the Senate again shortly during the change of the leadership. He was one of those who voted for now-House Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.
Recently, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jonvic Remulla claimed that Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s arrest could allegedly lead to the death 10,000 people. Recently, Malacañang made a cakk fir the Senator.
Based on News4, Malacañang called on Sen. Bato dela Roa to voluntarily surrender. Based on the report, Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro said that his surrender will allegedly prevent a bloodshed.
“Sumuko ka na kasi para wala nang dugong dadanak,” the Malacañang official said based on the report.
Atty. Claire Castro also issued a reminder to those who are helping Sen. Bato dela Rosa escape from the authorities. He called on these people not to be instruments for some people not to be held accountable under the law.
“At the same time, doon sa mga nagkakanlong, alam po natin na dapat nating pairalin ang batas. So huwag kayo magsilbi na kasangkapan ng mga taong dapat na nadidinig din o mga taong dapat napapanagot sa batas,” the Malacañang Press Undersecretary said.
Recently, DILG Sec. Jonvic Remulla claimed that the arrest of Sen. Bato dela Rosa in Mindanao could allegedly cost 10,000 lives.
