Bato dela Rosa last seen in Mindanao; DILG denies arrest

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday announced that the last known location of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was in the Mindanao area. "Mindanao area,” Interior chief Jonvic Remulla said in an ambush interview when asked on the matter. Remulla denied social media claims that the lawmaker had already been arrested. According to him, authorities had verified the reports but found no basis for claims that Dela Rosa had been taken into custody. "We would like to confirm categorically that as of 6 o'clock p.m. last night, there has been no arrest for Senator Bato," Remulla said. Remulla attributed the reports of Dela Rosa's supposed arrest to the spread of fake news. He added that authorities would remain transparent should any enforcement action be carried out. Remulla said authorities would follow legal procedures, including booking him, presenting him before a court, and proceeding with the appropriate judicial process. "He will be booked, he will be made to appear in court, then dadalhin siya (he will be subjected) for extradition,” The International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague has issued a warrant of arrest for Dela Rosa in connection with the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte and Dela Rosa are alleged co-conspirators in the charges of crimes against humanity of murder and attempted murder, related to the killings under Duterte's war on drugs when he was president and when the ex-president was mayor of Davao City. — RSJ, GMA News