PNP to unmask those assisting Bato’s travel

MANILA, Philippines — Apart from manhunt operations to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also conducting a probe to identify the people who assisted the fugitive senator in reaching Mindanao, where he is believed to be hiding.

While it was already established that Dela Rosa left the Senate building last May with the assistance of Sen. Robinhood Padilla, it remains a mystery how he was able to go to Mindanao from Metro Manila.

It is one of the angles which the task group overseeing operations to locate and arrest Dela Rosa is looking into.

“We are still validating, looking into all of it,” task group head PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Lopez said.

Police tracker teams in all 18 regions in the country are looking for Dela Rosa, the first PNP chief of former president Rodrigo Duterte who is listed as his co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case for alleged atrocities in his administration’s war on drugs.

Lopez warned people providing refuge to Dela Rosa they will face criminal cases for harboring a fugitive.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has put up a P50-million bounty for any information that would lead to Dela Rosa’s arrest.

Dela Rosa ignored the one-week ultimatum of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., which lapsed on Friday.

The PNP has intensified intelligence-driven efforts to arrest Dela Rosa, who is allegedly being protected by a powerful armed group.

The police force is closely coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines which has expressed readiness to assist in the manhunt for Dela Rosa, including the utilization of its air and water assets.

For his part, Nartatez assured Dela Rosa they will respect and observe his rights, stressing police officers are professional in carrying out orders.

“We will pursue every lead, strengthen our coordination and exhaust all lawful means to implement the warrant but our determination must always be matched by professionalism and respect for human rights,” he said in a statement.