P50 million bounty up for Bato’s capture

MANILA, Philippines —  Saying the gloves are off, the government has put up a P50-million bounty for any information that will lead to the capture of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and gave him a week to surrender. In announcing the reward, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the senator, who is considered “armed and dangerous,” has been given all the courtesy to voluntarily surrender following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest issued in November 2025.

Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, has been tagged a co-conspirator of former president Rodrigo Duterte in the crimes against humanity case before the ICC.

Instead of showing up and taking responsibility for his actions, Remulla said Dela Rosa is a coward by remaining in hiding.

“Senator Bato mistook my gesture of negotiation as a sign of weakness. It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to bring justice to his victims,” Remulla told a news briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.

“As of today, Senator Bato will be considered armed and dangerous. We are placing a bounty of P50 million for his capture,” Remulla said.

With the reward, Dela Rosa is now the No. 1 most wanted fugitive in the country, followed by gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang, who has a P20-million bounty for his arrest in connection with the alleged kidnapping and killing of cockfight enthusiasts or sabungeros.

The bounty for Dela Rosa was sourced from the intelligence funds of the DILG and the PNP, Remulla said.

Remulla has designated PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Lopez as the head of a special task force to arrest Dela Rosa.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Dela Rosa has one week to surrender but maintained law enforcement operations to arrest the senator are ongoing.

Apart from intelligence operatives, Nartatez said they are also utilizing tactical teams and other resources to locate and arrest Dela Rosa.

“With or without ultimatum, with or without reward, the PNP is ready to implement whatever (needs) to be implemented. That is our commitment,” he said.

Dela Rosa is allegedly being protected by a powerful armed group in a secluded area in Mindanao, the reason why Remulla is cautious about launching an operation to arrest the senator by force.

The DILG chief said a bloodbath similar to the siege of Marawi in 2017 could ensue.

For Nartatez, the possibility of casualties is always there but maintained they have contingency measures in place to ensure the lawmaker is caught.

“For example, the coddlers are 10 (people), then we will need a hundred (operatives). It will be a calibrated one,” Nartatez said.

The PNP has searched several areas in Mindanao and Luzon, including Metro Manila, where there have been reported sightings of Dela Rosa but all turned out negative. Nartatez said they could not see a pattern on Dela Rosa’s movements. Nartatez warned Dela Rosa’s coddlers to stop protecting Dela Rosa and hand him over to authorities or face criminal cases.

Dela Rosa’s last public appearance was on May 14, when he was seen exiting the Senate premises alongside Sen. Robinhood Padilla, his colleague in the minority.

Dela Rosa’s counsel Israelito Torreon rejected the DILG’s bounty for his client, saying a local warrant must first exist.

Torreon’s law firm made a lengthy post on social media yesterday, after the lawyer initially said “no comment” on the matter.

“A reward system built on Philippine warrants cannot be used for a person who has no Philippine warrant,” the law firm of Torreon & Partners posted on Facebook.

“The only document the government has is a warrant from the International Criminal Court. That is a foreign tribunal under a treaty the Philippines withdrew from effective March 17, 2019. No Philippine judge has examined that warrant, adopted it or issued one of his own,” Torreon claimed. – Ghio Ong

abtestabtest Marcos: Don’t panic over weakening peso By Alexis Romero | 1 day ago There is no need to panic over the weakening of the Philippine peso as efforts are underway to defend the local currency “as... Headlines Bernardo: Only Ping not involved in infra kickbacks By Daphne Galvez | 10 hours ago Former Department of Public Works and Highways  undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified yesterday that to his knowledge,... Headlines Leasing program to ease classroom shortage . By Evelyn Macairan | 10 hours ago The Department of Education  is leasing available private school facilities and properties and using them to address... Headlines Homilies must come from faith, not AI – Tagle By Evelyn Macairan | 10 hours ago Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, has cautioned against the use of artificial intelligence in... Headlines Palace: World getting smaller for Bato By Alexis Romero | 10 hours ago The world is getting smaller for fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Malacañang said yesterday, as it... Headlines Latest More in Headlines Philippines renews call for adherence to international law DENR: Restoring wetlands, rivers vital amid El Niño Business groups urge Congress to scrap P180-billion infra insertions Marcos attends Michelin Guide 2027 ceremony abtest China blames ‘self-serving’ PH politician for scaled-back ASEAN defense presence By Cristina Chi | 16 hours ago China said on Thursday, October 29, it sent only its Manila-based defense attaché to a top regional defense meeting... Headlines Australia says China buildup creating 'pressure' in Southeast Asia 18 hours ago Australia’s defence chief called for allies and neighbours to work more closely together as China expands its military... Headlines PNP appeals to Bato to 'end manhunt with dignity' By Alyana Uy | 18 hours ago The Philippine National Police called for Sen. Bato dela Rosa's surrender ahead of the week-long deadline. Headlines JBC submits shortlist for chief justice, SC associate justice posts By Ian Laqui | 19 hours ago The Judicial and Bar Council said five Supreme Court justices were shortlisted for the chief justice position, while 11 individuals... Headlines ASEAN Summit in Metro Manila: Road closures, flight changes 19 hours ago What commuters and travelers need to know for ASEAN Summit Headlines Recommended Tax evasion vs VP Sara, nasilip ng prosecution October 30, 2026 - 12:00am Nasilip ng House prosecution panel ang posibleng tax evasion ni Vice President Sara Duterte matapos umanong madiskubre ang P111.85 milyong hindi pagtutugma sa pagitan ng kanyang idineklarang kita at mga depositong...r HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE Senado at Kamara, pinagkokomento ng SC sa impeachment threshold ni VP Sara October 30, 2026 - 12:00am Inatasan ng Korte Suprema ang Senado at Kamara na magsumite ng kanilang komento sa petisyong inihain nina Sen. Robin Padilla at Sen. Bong Go na kumukuwestiyon sa ruling ng impeachment court hinggil sa voting threshold...r HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE PANOORIN: NLEX C5 Northlink toll-free hanggang katapusan ng taon — Marcos 22 hours ago Libre hanggang katapusan ng taon ang pagdaan sa bagong bukas na NLEX C5 Northlink, ayon kay Marcos. HeadlinesBONGBONG MARCOSINFRASTRUCTURENLEX Barbers kay VP Sara: Ipaliwanag P81.84 milyong insurance, investments 1 day ago Hinamon ni House impeachment trial adviser at spokesperson ­Robert Ace Barbers si Vice President Sara Duterte na... HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE PANOORIN: P15-M na mga relo, ninakaw sa NAIA; mga opisyal, na-Tulfo! 1 day ago Nabawi ni Sen. Raffy Tulfo ang tatlong relong nagkakahalaga umano ng mahigit P15 milyon na ninakaw sa NAIA. HeadlinesNAIARAFFY TULFOSENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES next Recommended Tax evasion vs VP Sara, nasilip ng prosecution Nasilip ng House prosecution panel ang posibleng tax evasion ni Vice President Sara Duterte matapos umanong madiskubre ang P111.85 milyong hindi pagtutugma sa pagitan ng kanyang idineklarang kita at mga depositong pumasok sa bangko, batay sa mga dokumentong iniharap kaugnay ng nakabinbing impeachment trial sa Senado. 10 hours ago SARA DUTERTE Senado at Kamara, pinagkokomento ng SC sa impeachment threshold ni VP Sara Inatasan ng Korte Suprema ang Senado at Kamara na magsumite ng kanilang komento sa petisyong inihain nina Sen. Robin Padilla at Sen. Bong Go na kumukuwestiyon sa ruling ng impeachment court hinggil sa voting threshold na kinakailangan upang mahatulan si Vice President Sara Duterte. 10 hours ago SARA DUTERTE PANOORIN: NLEX C5 Northlink toll-free hanggang katapusan ng taon — Marcos Libre hanggang katapusan ng taon ang pagdaan sa bagong bukas na NLEX C5 Northlink, ayon kay Marcos. 22 hours ago BONGBONG MARCOS INFRASTRUCTURE NLEX Barbers kay VP Sara: Ipaliwanag P81.84 milyong insurance, investments Hinamon ni House impeachment trial adviser at spokesperson ­Robert Ace Barbers si Vice President Sara Duterte na ipaliwanag ang umano’y P81.84 ­milyong transaksyon sa insurance at investments nila ng kanyang asawang si Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio. 1 day ago SARA DUTERTE PANOORIN: P15-M na mga relo, ninakaw sa NAIA; mga opisyal, na-Tulfo! Nabawi ni Sen. Raffy Tulfo ang tatlong relong nagkakahalaga umano ng mahigit P15 milyon na ninakaw sa NAIA. 1 day ago NAIA RAFFY TULFO SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!