PNP receives over 500 Bato ‘sightings’

Law enforcement agencies have received more than 500 tips on the whereabouts of fugitive Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa following the activation of dedicated 24/7 mobile hotlines, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced Monday.

Nartatez said police units across the country are actively validating leads submitted by the public, ranging from locations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to remote islands.

"There are no less than 500 pieces of information that have come in, and those were properly validated, visited, and operated on," Nartatez said.

"Our personnel have checked different areas from Western and Eastern Mindanao, Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog, Northern and Central Luzon, and even islands I had never heard of before, including locations accessible only by four-hour treks or crossing 11 rivers," he added.

Despite the challenging terrain described in some reports, Nartatez expressed confidence that law enforcement is closing in on the fugitive senator.

"A fugitive cannot hide forever," Nartatez said.

The PNP chief cited that tips have arrived via text messages sent directly to patrol officers and municipal police stations, adding that the PNP expects additional leads as the operation continues.

"We have 1,493 municipal police stations and hundreds of city police stations, backed by 230,000 personnel nationwide," Nartatez explained, stressing the bureau's vast operational reach and intelligence funding.

The PNP previously established five dedicated 24/7 mobile hotlines to collect public tips — 0927-3073501, 0995-512-2729, 0945-611-5926, 0999-361-9878 and 0960-692-3025.

Authorities reiterated that informant identities will remain strictly confidential, while warning the public against submitting false or prank calls.

Dela Rosa remains the subject of an active warrant of arrest in connection with crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court.