‘Dating tatay ng PNP’: Police urge Bato dela Rosa to surrender as deadline lapses

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine National Police on Friday, October 30, reminded Sen. Bato dela Rosa that he was once the “father” of the force now hunting him, pleading with him to give himself up as the deadline for his surrender expired.

Lt. Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez, the PNP’s deputy chief for administration and supervisor of the manhunt, urged the senator to submit himself peacefully to avoid any harm to the police force at a press briefing at Camp Crame.

“Ang isang magulang, gagawin niya lahat para protektahan ang kanyang mga anak... Kung titingnan natin, si Senator Bato dela Rosa ay dating magulang at dating tatay ng PNP. Kung sa puso niya ay naroon pa ang kanyang pagiging tatay ng PNP, alam ko hindi niya hahayaan na isa o dalawang member ng PNP ang masasaktan,” Lopez said.

(A parent will do everything to protect his children... If we look at it, Senator Bato dela Rosa is a former parent, a former father of the PNP. If being the father of the PNP is still in his heart, I know he will not allow even one or two members of the PNP to get hurt.)

“Kaya patuloy kaming humihingi ng tulong sa kanya, patuloy kaming nagsusumamo sa kanya na sumuko na siya para maiwasan ang lahat ng magiging problema,” he added.

(That is why we keep asking for his help, and keep pleading with him to surrender so that all these problems can be avoided.)

Lopez said the police organization was saddened by the situation, “but we are doing our job.”

The PNP has said its search for Dela Rosa would now be stepped up, with tracker teams reorganized and task groups established in all regions.

Citing the Bureau of Immigration, Lopez said the senator has not left the country. 

Dela Rosa led the PNP from 2016 to 2018 and oversaw the police campaign against illegal drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He is wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection with the crimes against humanity of murder case against Duterte, accused of being a co-perpetrator in alleged crimes committed during the drug war.

The ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber I issued the warrant in November 2025. 

The senator was last seen when he slipped out of the Senate premises in the early hours of May 14.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government announced a P50-million bounty for information leading to the senator's arrest on October 23.

Lopez said police would exercise “maximum tolerance” in serving the warrant to avoid unnecessary confrontation, and that investigators had yet to identify any person or group sheltering the senator.

The DILG earlier claimed Dela Rosa was hiding in Mindanao under the protection of an “armed and powerful group,” which it did not name. 

Torreon said Thursday that Dela Rosa could make his first public appearance since May 14 if the Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order.

Malacañang has said the operation will continue whether or not Dela Rosa surrenders within the deadline. 

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