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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PAF denies reports of aircraft linked to Senator Bato's supposed 'arrest' at Villamor Air Base

PAF denies reports of aircraft linked to Senator Bato's supposed 'arrest' at Villamor Air Base

No confirmed report of lawmaker's capture

Published Aug 5, 2026 07:44 am

At A Glance

  • The Philippine Air Force denied reports that an aircraft linked to the supposed transfer of Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa was at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, saying the situation there remained normal.
  • The clarification came after rumors spread that Dela Rosa had been arrested under an International Criminal Court warrant and would be flown to The Hague, similar to former president Rodrigo Duterte's transfer in March last year.
  • The PAF said only law enforcement agencies can confirm any arrest and stressed there was no verified information to support claims that aircraft activity at Villamor Air Base was related to Dela Rosa's alleged transfer.
Villamor Air Base (File photo: Philippine Air Force)
Villamor Air Base (File photo: Philippine Air Force)
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday, Aug. 5, belied reports that an aircraft similar to the one used to fly former president Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague had been sighted at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City amid speculation that Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa had been arrested.
PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Christina Basco dismissed the report when asked about the situation at the air base.
"Negative," Basco briefly told the Manila Bulletin.
The PAF said the situation at the Villamor Air Base remained normal as press time.
The clarification came hours after several government officials denied reports that Dela Rosa had already been arrested in connection with a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Dela Rosa is wanted by the ICC as a co-conspirator in the crimes against humanity case filed against former president Duterte over the previous administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Reports about an aircraft tasked to bring Dela Rosa to the Hague from Villamor Air Base surfaced after Duterte was flown in a similar circumstance in March last year following his arrest under an ICC warrant.
The PAF, however, left it to the discretion of law enforcement agencies to confirm the arrest of Dela Rosa.
And since there is no verified report yet, it noted that there was no basis for claims linking aircraft activity at the military air base to the senator's supposed transfer.
Read: PAF: No unusual movement at Villamor Air Base after Trillanes raises alleged ICC warrant vs Bato in Senate

Related Tags

Villamor Air Base PAF Senator Bato dela Rosa ICC
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