Politics · Philippines Bureau
Government offers P50-M bounty for dela Rosa's arrest
Philippine authorities have issued a one-week ultimatum for former police chief Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa to surrender, with a P50-million reward for his capture. The development comes as both dela Rosa and ex-President Rodrigo Duterte face International Criminal Court charges related to the deadly war on drugs.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Philippine National Police has launched a manhunt for Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, offering a substantial bounty as part of efforts to apprehend the former police chief over allegations of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.
Authorities gave dela Rosa a seven-day deadline to voluntarily surrender to face trial alongside ex-President Rodrigo Duterte. The P50-million reward underscores the government's determination to bring the high-profile figure into custody in connection with the controversial drug war that characterized the Duterte administration.
The ICC charges stem from the thousands of deaths that occurred during the government's campaign against illegal drugs, which has drawn international scrutiny over alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during much of the drug war and is now a sitting senator, has not publicly responded to the ultimatum as of Friday.
The bounty and deadline mark an escalation in enforcement efforts to ensure compliance with ICC proceedings, signaling the government's commitment to accountability measures related to the controversial period.