A 50-million-peso (US$780,000) bounty for information leading to the arrest of fugitive Philippine senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has raised questions over the Marcos administration’s ability to enforce the law against high-profile political figures, with analysts warning the move risks making Manila appear weak and reactive.
Dela Rosa, who served as national police chief under former president Rodrigo Duterte, faces an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity connected to Duterte’s deadly “war on drugs”. While Duterte is already in ICC custody in The Hague ahead of his trial scheduled to open next month, dela Rosa remains at large.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the bounty on Friday at a news briefing, warning that the senator was now considered “armed and dangerous”.
“It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to bring justice to his victims,” Remulla said, as police issued a one-week surrender ultimatum.
