Politics · Philippines Bureau
Palace urges Dela Rosa to surrender, warns against fugitive example
The Palace has called on Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to surrender and face International Criminal Court charges, warning him not to set a precedent for other fugitives. The government has posted a P50-million bounty for his arrest.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Palace intensified pressure on Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to turn himself in, with press officer Claire Castro cautioning him against becoming a role model for fugitives evading justice.
Castro's remarks came as the government escalates efforts to apprehend the senator, who faces crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court. The administration has authorized a P50-million reward for information leading to Dela Rosa's arrest.
The former Philippine National Police chief has been a focal point of ICC investigations into the administration's war on drugs, which resulted in thousands of deaths. Dela Rosa had previously served as both police chief and senator, roles that placed him prominently in drug enforcement policy during the period under investigation.
The Palace's latest appeal represents a significant public push to compel Dela Rosa's surrender, as diplomatic and legal mechanisms continue to pursue accountability for alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the anti-narcotics campaign. Officials have not disclosed Dela Rosa's current whereabouts or whether he remains in the Philippines.