Politics · Philippines Bureau
Palace disputes bounty necessity in Dela Rosa case
A Palace spokesperson has questioned why a P50-million bounty was needed for Senator Ronald Dela Rosa's capture, suggesting the fugitive senator would have surrendered if not assisted in leaving Senate premises. The comments come amid ongoing controversy surrounding Dela Rosa's disappearance and subsequent reappearance.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA—Palace press officer Claire Castro on Saturday challenged the justification for offering a P50-million bounty for the apprehension of Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, asserting that such an incentive would have been unnecessary had the senator not received assistance in fleeing the Senate building when he reappeared in May.
Castro's remarks came in response to statements released by minority senators regarding the circumstances of Dela Rosa's movements and the government's handling of the situation. She implied that third-party assistance enabled the senator to evade immediate custody, necessitating the substantial bounty offer.
The issue underscores the political tensions surrounding Dela Rosa's case, with different branches of government offering divergent accounts of events. The senator's reappearance at the Senate after an extended absence had already drawn significant public and media attention.
No further details were immediately available regarding the specific assistance Castro referenced or the timeline of events leading to the bounty's announcement. The case continues to attract scrutiny from lawmakers and observers monitoring developments in the high-profile incident.