Authorities gave an ultimatum to Sen. Bato dela Rosa
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. has given Sen. Ronald Bato Dela Rosa a one-week grace period to surrender.
This follows the formal announcement by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jonvic Remulla on Friday, October 23, that a P50 million reward would be offered for the capture of the senator.
Previously, the DILG head said that Dela Rosa is hiding in Mindanao, and is being protected by a group. Remulla also said that a negotiation is happening between that group and the government.
The Secretary also stated that the authorities could use force in getting the Senator because allegedly “10,000 potential deaths” may happen, and they don’t want to compromise other people’s lives just to arrest Dela Rosa.
Following this, the PNP called out to the lawmaker who has been hiding since May to surrender, based on the article in Bandera.
“You yield. Sumuko ka. Kung puwede mong mapasuko, e di sumuko ka. And so, Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, has one week to surrender at pinaghahandaan natin iyan,” Nartatez stressed.
He said that they are no longer negotiating with the senator, so it would be better for him to just surrender to the authorities. “Hindi naman tayo nakikipag-negotiate. We are giving him an option to surrender. Iyon ang pinakamaganda, mag-surrender,” the PNP chief said.
Nartatez stressed that anyone proven to be assisting or protecting the senator could face consequences.
To recall, Senator Bato dela Rosa is wanted under an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for the crime against humanity of murder. Allegedly, he was part of the extrajudicial killings that occurred during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now in the ICC’s custody in The Hague.
