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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Remulla: No shortcut of legal procedures for Bato once arrested

Remulla: No shortcut of legal procedures for Bato once arrested

DILG denies rumors of arrest

Published Aug 5, 2026 01:17 pm
Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Malacañang File Photo)
Former president Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Malacañang File Photo)
There will be no shortcut of legal procedures in handling Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa once he is nabbed through the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said as it denied that the fugitive senator was already collared.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that part of that legal procedure is that Dela Rosa would undergo a booking procedure and will be made to appear in a local court before he would be sent to the Netherlands.
Dela Rosa was named as co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case over the drug war, the same case that former president Rodrigo Duterte is facing.
“We will go to the process as prescribed,” said Remulla, reacting to the reports that Dela Rosa would be sent straight to the Hague once arrested.
On Tuesday, social media was inundated by claims and rumors that Dela Rosa was already arrested. Photos of a long-range airplane that was supposed to be spotted in the country also fueled the speculation.
But Remulla said Dela Rosa is still at large and is being hunted down.
“As of 6 p.m. last night, there has been no arrest for Senator Bato. There has been a lot of speculation that he was arrested and he is being whisked away to the Hague, Rhat’s not true,” said Remulla.
He said coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation through the Department of Justice also disputed the claim of arrest.
The NBI is under the DOJ while the Philippine National Police is under the DILG.
Remulla said he himself was surprised by the rumors but Malacañang said this could be a diversionary tactic from the ongoing impeachment trial.
If Dela Rosa is arrested, Remulla vowed that the government will be transparent, “We are always open, We are always transparent in what we do. All the proper channels, all proper procedures will be done according to the rule of law.”
Asked of the last monitoring of del Rosa, Remulla said the fugitive senator was last spotted in Mindanao.

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DILG ICC Bato dela Rosa
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