The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has denied claims that it is sheltering or protecting Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant.
In a statement dated Oct. 30, the MNLF Information Committee said there was no established formal relationship between Dela Rosa and the organization. It said reports that the senator may be hiding in Mindanao with an armed group had prompted speculation about possible MNLF involvement.
The group said Dela Rosa had discussed the MNLF mainly in connection with conflict and peacebuilding. It also noted that he had experienced fighting between government forces and the MNLF while studying in Marawi and had supported programs benefiting former combatants.
The statement said Dela Rosa had advocated faster integration of qualified Moro Islamic Liberation Front and MNLF members into the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The MNLF described this as policy-level engagement, not evidence of a personal or organizational alliance.
The MNLF acknowledged that its founder, Nur Misuari, is known as a friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Dela Rosa has described as his political patron. It also said Misuari and Dela Rosa know each other.
However, the organization stressed that these connections do not establish that Dela Rosa is an MNLF member, an operational ally or someone being protected by the group. It added that the MNLF is fragmented into factions, making it uncertain whether Misuari’s faction would shield him from arrest.
The statement came amid speculation that an armed group was helping Dela Rosa avoid arrest. The Department of the Interior and Local Government has offered a ₱50-million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Dela Rosa has been named among individuals accused of crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
