The Department of the Interior and Local Government has offered a ₱50 million reward for the arrest of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, according to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
Remulla said dela Rosa would be considered “armed and dangerous” starting Friday, while authorities continue efforts to locate and arrest the senator in connection with an alleged arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
According to Remulla, November will mark nearly one year since the ICC allegedly issued the warrant against dela Rosa over his purported criminal responsibility for deaths linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The DILG chief said authorities had already extended all possible considerations to the senator, but claimed dela Rosa continued to hide.
Remulla also said the senator had allegedly mistaken his negotiations for a sign of weakness. He added that it was time for dela Rosa to be held accountable for the victims.
The DILG secretary did not provide further details in the statement about the specific terms of the reward or the process for claiming it.
Authorities have also formed a task force led by Gen. Wilson Lopez to locate and arrest dela Rosa, Remulla said.
Lopez is expected to provide additional updates on the operation in the coming days, according to the DILG chief.
The announcement marks a new development in the government’s efforts to locate the senator, with the ₱50 million reward intended to support his arrest.
The claims regarding the ICC warrant and dela Rosa’s alleged criminal responsibility were presented by Remulla. The provided report did not include a response from the senator regarding the reward announcement or the secretary’s statements.
