MANILA, Philippines — Appealing directly to a fugitive lawmaker’s sense of military honor to prevent an escalating law enforcement dragnet from turning chaotic, the state’s top internal security official has issued a direct plea. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla made a direct, public appeal to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to turn himself in and face the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him.
The appeal comes as the entire 225,000-strong force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) remains on high alert, actively searching for the former top cop turned fugitive senator across the country.
The high-stakes political drama reached a boiling point following a brief, high-tension reappearance at the Senate, which ultimately dissolved into a clandestine exit:
[May 11: Resurfaces at the Senate] ──► Arrives Unexpectedly for Leadership Coup Shaking Up the Chamber │ ▼ (The Tense 72-Hour Standoff)[SC Denies TRO Against ICC Warrant] ◄── DOJ Directs Law Enforcement to Execute the Global Arrest Mandate │ ▼ [May 14, Early Hours: Dela Rosa Evades Security and Slips Back Into Hiding]
Speaking to reporters during an interview at Camp Karingal in Quezon City on Friday, Secretary Remulla acknowledged that while tracker teams have yet to pin down Dela Rosa’s location, intelligence units are working continuously. “There are always leads,” Remulla noted, confirming that the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are aggressively following up on vehicles and logistics networks linked to the senator’s escape.
Rather than relying solely on forced capture, Remulla chose to address Dela Rosa directly through the media, offering a path that guarantees safety, legal integrity, and structural respect.
[ THE REMULLA SURRENDER EXPEDIENT ]
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[ RESPECT FOR THE UNIFORM ] [ PREVENTING STRATEGIC ESCALATION ]
• **Statutory Assurances:** *"Please surrender,"* Remulla appealed. • **The Legal Dead End:** Remulla emphasized that prolonging the
*"We will respect you. Your rights will be observed... We will manhunt only complicates the legal standing of the senator's
treat you as an officer and a gentleman."* closest aides and logistical supporters.
• **Guaranteed Due Process:** The DILG chief promised that the state • **Obstruction Realities:** The appeal follows sweeping moves by the
will strictly enforce constitutional guards during custody transfers. CIDG filing criminal obstruction of justice charges against several individuals.
Dela Rosa’s legal exposure stems from his historical role as the initial chief architect of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s highly controversial anti-narcotics campaign.
| Target Judicial Subject | Core International Indictment | Immediate Enforcement Status |
| Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa | Charged as an indirect co-perpetrator in Crimes Against Humanity linked to the 2016–2018 drug war. | Fugitive; active nationwide tracker teams mobilized by the NBI and PNP following the denial of his Supreme Court TRO. |
| The Logistical Enablers | Facing multi-count Obstruction of Justice raps filed by the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). | Indictments officially logged against high-profile allies, including Senator Robin Padilla and five others, for allegedly facilitating the escape. |
| Senate Security Matrix | Systemic protocol failures and secondary administrative investigations into a recent highly publicized campus firearms discharge. | Under intense audit; Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is pressing Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to enforce pending security suspensions. |
While political allies of the former administration continue to label the international prosecution as a form of selective political persecution, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida re-verified that the executive branch’s ultimate goal is to deliver Dela Rosa directly to the ICC in The Hague.
With law enforcement widening its border checkpoints and inspecting seaport terminals across the archipelago, Secretary Remulla emphasized that a voluntary submission remains the best remaining outcome—ensuring the country’s democratic institutions can resolve the constitutional crisis with absolute dignity and transparency.