Manila, Philippines — Six additional firearms registered under Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s name have been voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed.
In coordination with the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office and the Regional Civil Security Unit 4A, these firearms were surrendered through his legal representative from his residence in Silang, Cavite on Monday.
The turnover is in connection to the Notice and Order of Revocation of License to Own FireArms issued for 117 firearms registered under the senator.
This brings the total firearms surrendered to 26, all under the custody and temporary safekeeping of the authorities.
On June 11, 20 firearms were voluntarily surrendered from his residence in Davao.
The revocation order follows the Justice Department’s declaration of Dela Rosa as a fugitive from justice due to the active arrest warrant from ICC.
Since the unlocking of the warrant, Dela Rosa went into hiding after his last public appearance at the Senate premises on May 14.
Presently, the authorities are pursuing operations to locate his whereabouts.
Before his escape, Dela Rosa asked the Supreme Court for a Temporary Restraining Order to block the implementation of the arrest order. The TRO prayer was denied by the High Court.
The senator’s family and supporters of the Duterte family continue to challenge the validity of the arrest warrant, citing the Philippine’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute since 2019.
The Malacañang Palace maintained that the Philippines is not a member of the Rome Statute and is not helping the ICC.
It argued, however, that the country, under its laws, still has a responsibility to ICC’s investigation as a former member.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News