Surrender deadline lapses; still no Bato

MANILA, Philippines — After the lapse of the one-week ultimatum for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to surrender, the Philippine National Police has intensified manhunt operations, organizing PNP task groups in all 18 regions in the country with the sole purpose of locating and arresting the lawmaker.

PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Wilson Lopez, the overall supervisor of the manhunt for Dela Rosa, said tracker teams from police regional offices have been mobilized to arrest the senator, who has a P50-million bounty for his capture.

“The PNP’s objective remains clear and that is to arrest Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, and we will make appropriate actions and legal actions to implement this one,” Lopez said in a news briefing at Camp Crame.

Even if Dela Rosa is a former PNP chief, Lopez said the entire police force would not waver in its mission to capture the senator.

“The PNP is determined to bring the matter to a lawful resolution,” Lopez said.

As they want to avoid bloodshed from a potential armed encounter with Dela Rosa or his alleged coddlers, Lopez appealed to the senator to surrender peacefully.

“If he is sincere in being a (former) father of the PNP, he will find ways to ensure no cop and no one from his side will be hurt,” Lopez said.

Dela Rosa went into hiding after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest against him as a co-perpetrator of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

He resurfaced last May and delivered the 13th vote that installed Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president. He escaped following a shooting incident at the upper chamber and has not been seen since.

Citing intelligence reports, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Dela Rosa is hiding somewhere in Mindanao under the protection of a powerful armed group, information which Lopez said they are validating.

After opening hotline numbers, the PNP has been receiving calls from informants about Dela Rosa’s possible whereabouts.

Lopez said the information they are getting from the hotlines does not pinpoint Dela Rosa’s location solely in Mindanao, but other areas as well, the reason why all the calls are being validated.

To prevent Dela Rosa from escaping through the backdoor, Lopez said they have beefed up security measures at the country’s borders, particularly in Mindanao.

“All things are being taken care of, all possible areas and no stones (left) unturned in our operations,” he said.

Based on their coordination with the Bureau of Immigration, Lopez said Dela Rosa is still in the country.

With a large bounty on Dela Rosa’s head, Lopez believes the senator’s world is getting smaller as more people are joining efforts to find him.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police officers were instructed to exercise sound judgment to prevent an armed encounter in case Dela Rosa is located.

“I have directed all personnel to remain professional, respect human rights and exercise maximum restraint while carrying out their lawful duties,” he said in a statement.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said a full manhunt, including the establishment of checkpoints would be logical following the lapse of Dela Rosa’s deadline to surrender.

He said the bureau has maintained a search unit and a dedicated monitoring team since Dela Rosa went missing in May. NBI regional and district offices were also told to remain alert, particularly at exit points that the fugitive senator might use to bolt the country.

Matibag said they are coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP, but are limiting information on a need-to-know basis.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa’s counsel Israelito Torreon is hoping that police officers will not follow “illegal orders” in the conduct of manhunt operations against his client.

“I hope the PNP personnel would only follow lawful orders. If the order is doubtful, I hope they will act accordingly,” he told reporters in a phone interview yesterday.

Torreon said they looked up the website of the International Criminal Police Organization and found out that Dela Rosa does not have a red notice alert, which should be the basis for his arrest by Philippine authorities. — Mark Ernest Villeza

abtestabtest Maharlika CEO Consing on way out By Aubrey Rose Inosante | October 5, 2026 - 12:00am   Maharlika Investment Corp. president and CEO Rafael Consing Jr. is expected to step down as his three-year term ends,... Headlines P30 million cloud-seeding brings hope to Visayas sugar farms By Gilbert Bayoran | 8 minutes ago  As the Visayas sugar industry braces for the looming threat of a projected super El Niño, a much-needed dose... Headlines NBI confirms Velasco couple owns 2 alleged ‘cash houses’ in Pasig By Renalyn Ramirez | October 6, 2026 - 4:23pm The NBI said Velasco spouses own 2 alleged “cash houses” in Pasig and are linked to 2 Marinduque resorts... Headlines Palace: Probe possible lapses in Atong Ang’s escape By Alexis Romero | 9 days ago Malacañang has called for an investigation to determine whether there were lapses that allowed businessman Charlie... Headlines Wage hikes, livelihood support, health care access pushed 2 days ago  As rising prices, inadequate wages, unemployment and concerns over government accountability continue to weigh heavily on Filipinos, Sen. Bong Go pushed for legislative measures and programs aimed at improving... Headlines Latest More in Headlines Stricter transport safety, security checks sought DepEd gains international recognition for improved PISA results Gas prices seen higher next week; rollback for diesel BAN Toxics warns of chemicals in Halloween toys abtest 2-year delay on CCTV turnover at NAIA irks Dizon By Josiah Antonio | 8 minutes ago Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon expressed dismay at the nearly two-year delay in the transfer of closed-circuit television control at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Headlines How tech can help Filipinos weather El Niño impact By EJ Macababbad | 8 minutes ago From low-cost water filtration systems to biofertilizers and automated irrigation, Filipino-made technologies are offering... Headlines Diokno: Concrete plan needed amid peso drop By Daphne Galvez | 8 minutes ago Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno urged the Marcos administration to present a clear and concrete plan to address the peso’s... Headlines VP camp calls out new ‘tanim witness’ By Bella Cariaso | 8 minutes ago The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday dismissed the claim of an alleged former driver of former House speaker... Headlines 19 more Philippine restos get Michelin Guide recognition By Andrew Ronquillo | 8 minutes ago On its second edition in the Philippines, the Michelin Guide recognized 19 new food establishments across Manila, Cebu, Pampanga and Cavite, bringing the number of honorees this year to 127. 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 1 day 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 2 days 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! 2 days 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. 1 day 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. 1 day 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. 1 day 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. 2 days 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. 2 days 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!