DILG offers P50-million bounty for Senator Bato dela Rosa over ICC warrant
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla gave the senator one week to surrender, while his lawyer challenged the legal basis for the reward.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has put up a P50-million reward for the capture of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Duterte administration's war on drugs, according to Edge Davao.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the bounty on Friday at Camp Crame in Quezon City. He described the senator as "armed and dangerous" and said the government would no longer extend him the courtesies previously given to a sitting senator, accusing him of cowardice for remaining in hiding.
"Now the gloves have to come off. It is time to bring justice to his victims," Remulla said.
Authorities have given Dela Rosa one week to surrender and warned that anyone found hiding him could face legal consequences. A dedicated task force led by Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Chief Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez has been formed to handle operational and tactical measures to locate and arrest him.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police were prepared for either a peaceful surrender or an enforcement operation, adding that the force had the personnel and training needed.
The ICC issued the arrest warrant on November 6, 2025, and unsealed it on May 11, 2026. Authorities said Dela Rosa was last seen leaving the Senate in Pasay City at around 2:30 a.m. on May 14, 2026. Officials have been checking reported sightings in secluded and insurgency-affected areas of Western Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Bicol, Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog. The DILG said any search and arrest would follow the law.
Dela Rosa's lawyer, Israelito Torreon, questioned the legal basis of the reward and challenged authorities to present a Philippine arrest warrant, a criminal case number and the memorandum circular authorizing the bounty. He argued that intelligence funds cannot be used to enforce a foreign court's warrant without legal authority under Philippine law.
Torreon also warned that calling the senator "armed and dangerous" without a court finding could encourage private individuals to take the law into their own hands. "Show the warrant. Show the case. Show the circular," he said.
Why it matters for Davao
Dela Rosa is a former Davao City police chief closely tied to the Duterte administration, and the intensified manhunt, including validation of reported sightings in Mindanao, is likely to be closely followed in the city.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Edge Davao. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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