MNLF denies sheltering Senator Bato dela Rosa amid ICC manhunt

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has denied that it is the armed group allegedly protecting Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who faces an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over his alleged role in the Duterte administration's drug war, according to Rappler.

"The MNLF is not cuddling Senator Bato," the group said in a statement, adding that it has no established formal relationship with the senator. Dela Rosa has not been seen in public since May.

The denial came after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he had received information that an armed group in Mindanao was protecting the senator. Remulla did not name the group. He also warned that a forced arrest could cost as many as 10,000 lives, which he cited as his reason for preferring to negotiate Dela Rosa's surrender.

The MNLF said the personal ties between former president Rodrigo Duterte and MNLF founder Nur Misuari should not be taken as proof that the group is hiding Dela Rosa. It described claims of its involvement as speculation rather than confirmed fact, noting that the MNLF is fragmented and that it is unclear whether the Misuari faction would or could shield him.

The group acknowledged that Dela Rosa appears to have personal and political links to figures associated with the MNLF, mainly through Duterte's relationship with Misuari, but said there is no verified evidence that he is a member, an operational ally, or currently under its protection.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa's party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan, has asked the Supreme Court to resolve his case quickly. The senator's camp has also urged the court to reverse its earlier ruling and stop the use of the ICC warrant against him.

The Philippine National Police, which Dela Rosa once led, has intensified its search for him after a one-week deadline for his voluntary surrender lapsed, Rappler reported. Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, also a former PNP chief who earlier called for Dela Rosa's safe arrest, advised authorities on social media to keep their operations secret. "When pursuing a high-profile target or handling a sensitive live case, secrecy discipline is key," Lacson said.