Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has declared Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa an “armed and dangerous” fugitive and announced a P15-million bounty for his arrest, intensifying the government’s pursuit of the senator.
Remulla said Dela Rosa was believed to be hiding somewhere in Mindanao, allegedly under the protection of a “very powerful group.” The claims have not been independently established.
The interior secretary also signaled a tougher approach after earlier efforts to negotiate. “Senator Bato mistook my gesture of negotiation as a sign of weakness. It’s time for the gloves to come off,” Remulla said.
The designation raises the stakes for law enforcement, requiring heightened caution during any arrest operation. However, it does not authorize indiscriminate force. Police remain bound by legal standards governing the use of force, including necessity and proportionality.
The bounty and intensified pursuit mark a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to locate Dela Rosa.
