Manila, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation has formed tracker teams to expedite the location and arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who is now officially considered a fugitive from justice.
The NBI has begun backtracking Dela Rosa’s movements from the moment he left the Senate premises in the early morning of May 14. Additionally, all district and regional offices have been ordered to remain on high alert within their respective area.
As a law enforcer and former chief of the Philippine National Police, authorities considered the senator as armed and dangerous.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag admitted that certain personalities might be harboring Dela Rosa while he is on the run. However, Matibag noted that Bureau of Immigration (BI) records indicate the senator is still within the Philippines.
It can be recalled that Senator Robin Padilla previously admitted that Dela Rosa left the Senate premises inside his SUV on May 14. When asked whether Padilla could face liabilities for this action:
Meanwhile, the Senate’s decision to shield Dela Rosa on the day his International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant was supposed to be served—a move the chamber labeled as “protective custody”—could hold the institution legally liable.
Matibag specifically pointed out the Senate leadership’s assertion that Dela Rosa was under their protective custody, which initially prevented authorities from taking him without a local legal basis for arrest.
Meanwhile Dela Rosa’s camp maintained that their client cannot be classified as a fugitive. They argued that only a domestic Regional Trial Court (RTC) has the authority to issue an arrest warrant, especially since the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC.
His defense team added that the senator remains free to leave the country if he wishes, pointing out that authorities only issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against him, not a Hold Departure Order.