‘Bato’ bounty cited to block ICC bid

Using the P50-million bounty imposed on him to boost a plea to the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse an earlier denial of his request for a temporary restraining order (TRO), the camp of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has sought to block his arrest and surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The bounty and his designation as “armed and dangerous” have heightened the threat to his constitutional rights, according to the senator’s counsel.

Dela Rosa’s legal team argued that developments in October had transformed the threat of arrest from a possibility into an immediate danger, particularly to his right to life.

In a 15-page manifestation dated 27 October and released to the public the following day, Dela Rosa’s counsel asked the SC to grant their motion for reconsideration, noting that local authorities have since “escalated” their efforts to implement the ICC warrant.

The motion, filed on 1 June, asked the High Court to reverse the denial of Dela Rosa’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the warrant.

“The motion for reconsideration remains unresolved,” the manifestation read. “In the meantime, the enforcement posture it documented has not abated.”

Dela Rosa’s lawyers cited the government’s reported deployment of tracker teams, including the police Special Action Force, and the issuance of a presidential directive for swift police action.

The embattled senator’s camp argued that these developments showed the threat of enforcement was no longer merely speculative.

The manifestation also warned that the bounty could encourage private individuals to attempt his capture outside lawful procedures.

It argued: “No court has found Petitioner Dela Rosa to be armed and dangerous.”

The manifestation pointed out that the designation, coupled with the bounty, placed the senator’s right to life in “present and serious danger.”

The lawyers also questioned the legal basis for the bounty, arguing that no local court had issued a warrant for Dela Rosa’s arrest.

The senator’s camp argued that the reward could not replace the domestic judicial procedures and safeguards that they said were necessary before the authorities could arrest and surrender him under an ICC warrant.

It reiterated the arguments raised in Dela Rosa’s 1 June motion for reconsideration, including that he has a clear constitutional right requiring protection, that the government’s enforcement actions materially threaten that right, and that surrender to The Hague would cause irreparable injury.

On 20 May, the SC voting 9-5-1 denied Dela Rosa’s request for a TRO and/or SQAO.

The High Court, though, clarified that its ruling covered only the plea for interim relief and that the main constitutional and legal issues raised in his petition remain unresolved.

The petition also cited statements from Malacañang indicating that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had directed law enforcement authorities to act swiftly to arrest the senator.

“Taken together, these are not stray remarks of individual officials. They constitute an announced executive enforcement program,” the manifestation stated.

Dela Rosa’s lawyers argued that the measures were pursued while the Supreme Court was still deciding the legality of his possible arrest and surrender to the foreign tribunal.

The senator’s camp also maintained that no Philippine court had issued an arrest warrant and questioned the legal basis for using public intelligence funds to finance a bounty for his capture.

His lawyers contended that the ICC warrant, an Interpol notice, or a similar international law enforcement mechanism should not substitute for domestic judicial procedures and safeguards before he can be arrested and surrendered abroad.

Government steps up search

The government has defended the reward as part of a legitimate law enforcement operation intended to locate and arrest the senator.

Dela Rosa’s lawyers, however, argued that the bounty could encourage private individuals to attempt to capture him outside established legal procedures. They also questioned the use of public funds for an operation intended to facilitate his surrender to an international tribunal without a Philippine judicial warrant.

The Philippine National Police released mobile hotline numbers Wednesday for the public to report information on Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.

PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, gave the hotline numbers: 0927-3073501; 0995-512-2729; 0945-611-5926; 0999-361-9878; and 0960-692-3025.

“We assure those who will give tips that their identities and numbers will be kept confidential, so we cannot discuss the tips that we receive,” Co said.

No wanted poster

The PNP spokesperson said they have not issued a wanted poster for Dela Rosa at this time.

“Should we determine that the issuance of one would be necessary and beneficial to our ongoing efforts to serve the warrant of arrest, we will do so. For now, our operations and intelligence efforts continue, and we remain committed to fulfilling our mandate through all available legal means,” Co said.

The one-week deadline for the senator to surrender, given by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, ends on Friday, 30 October.

Despite the deadline nearing, the senator’s camp has not sent any surrender feelers to the PNP.

Co said the PNP is ready for an armed encounter as Dela Rosa is considered “armed and dangerous” and he is under the protection of a very powerful and armed group in Mindanao.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is ready to support any lawful government operation consistent with its mandate.

In a radio interview, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military will support the operations to arrest Dela Rosa.

Amid reports that Dela Rosa is in Mindanao and protected by an armed group, Padilla said the public must distinguish verified information from speculation circulating online.