Palace Rejects Calls to Redirect Bato dela Rosa’s ₱50M Bounty to El Niño Aid
The Palace has rejected proposals to use the ₱50 million reward offered for information leading to Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa’s arrest to help address the effects of El Niño, saying the two issues should be handled separately.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the proposal was based on faulty reasoning because the government’s efforts to address El Niño and locate wanted individuals serve different purposes. She explained that government agencies have separate budgets allocated for specific programs and operations, making it inappropriate to redirect funds intended for one purpose to another.
Castro also stressed the importance of proper financial planning, noting that government funds should not be treated as money that can be quickly spent and easily replaced. Instead, budgets must be carefully managed to support planned activities and operations when needed.
The ₱50 million reward was announced in October 2026 as an incentive for anyone who could provide information leading to Dela Rosa’s arrest. The senator has been linked to the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity connected to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
The ICC confirmed that an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa had been issued confidentially on November 6, 2025. However, reports in May 2026 claiming that the court had publicly announced the warrant and sent representatives to the Philippines were denied by the ICC’s spokesperson at the time.
Dela Rosa returned to the Senate on May 11, 2026, after months away from public view. That day, the National Bureau of Investigation reportedly attempted to arrest him at the Senate building. The incident led to a security lockdown, and Dela Rosa was placed under the Senate’s protective custody before leaving the premises in the early hours of May 14.
The proposal to redirect the reward toward El Niño relief has drawn attention to the government’s priorities. However, Castro maintained that funds intended for law enforcement operations should remain separate from allocations for addressing environmental and agricultural concerns.
Related Post: Bato dela Rosa Given One Week To Surrender As Government Offers P50-Million Reward
