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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Revoke Bato's gun permits ASAP, DOJ tells PNP

Revoke Bato's gun permits ASAP, DOJ tells PNP

Published May 26, 2026 09:16 am
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (Facebook)
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (Facebook)
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is expecting the Philippine National Police (PNP) to revoke all the gun licenses of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa amid the ongoing manhunt in relation to the arrest warrant issued against him for his role in the bloody drug war in the country.
DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida said the PNP should have revoked the gun permits of Dela Rosa as early as Monday, May 26, following the failed appeals for the fugitive senator to surrender.
“Having a license to gun ownership is not a right but a privilege,” said Vida in a press briefing on Tuesday, May 26.
“Basically, there’s an arrest warrant and I expected that the PNP should have done that yesterday (May 25),” he added.
Reports have circulated that Dela Rosa has over 100 firearms and this was apparently one of the reasons why the National Bureau of Investigation earlier declared that the senator should be treated as armed and dangerous.
Vida, however, said they will discuss the matter with the PNP, particularly on how many firearms Dela Rosa really owns based on police records.
Some observers said Dela Rosa should have been stripped off of the gun privilege as this may endanger the lives of the law enforcers who are now hunting him down.
Vida said he will talk to PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez about the issue.
“I will talk to General Nartatez about that, and I expect that it should be revoked the soonest possible time,” Vida stressed.
For his part, newly-installed PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said on Monday that they have not received any request for the revocation of Dela Rosa’s gun license.
“The PNP has not yet received any formal request from the National Bureau of Investigation regarding the revocation of the firearms licenses of Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa,” said Co.
“Upon receipt of such a request, we will evaluate and act on the same in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10591 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, swiftly and within the bounds of the law,” he added.
Dela Rosa is facing crimes against humanity after he was named a co-perpetrator in the bloody drug war. He surfaced on May 11 at the Senate to participate in the successful move to oust Vicente Sotto III as the head of the Upper Chamber.
He was able to leave the Senate after the gunfire early morning of May 14.
He chose to hide since then but Vida said there are indications that the senator is still within the jurisdiction of the Philippines.

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DOJ PNP Bato dela Rosa gun license
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