How can we give Dela Rosa security if he’s missing, Palace asks

Senator Ronald dela Rosa (Photo by Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The security detail of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa may have been recalled because he is nowhere to be found, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Nasaan po ba kasi si (Where is) Senator Bato? Nakikita po ba natin (Do we see him)?” asked Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a press briefing, when sought to react to the lawmaker’s statement that he no longer has security aides when he arrived in his hometown in Davao.

“As of the moment, hindi ko po siya nakikita. So, paano po natin siya mabibigyan ng seguridad kung hindi po siya nagpapakita (As of the moment, I can’t see him. So, how can we provide him with security, if he doesn’t show up),” Castro added.

In a Facebook post, Dela Rosa said retired cops and soldiers have volunteered to replace his security detail that was recalled by the Philippine National Police.

Castro said the reinstatement of Dela Rosa’s security detail would not be an issue if he decides to show up.

“Baka po kasi nawala po siya. So, hindi naman puwedeng tumambay lang ang security nang wala po siya. Siguro po kapag siya po ay nagpakita po, hindi naman po iyan magiging problema (Maybe he’s gone. So, security can’t just hang around when he’s not there. Maybe if he shows up, it won’t be a problem),” she said.

In a Palace press briefing on March 20, Castro expressed dismay over Dela Rosa’s plan to go into hiding to evade possible arrest because of his involvement in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

Castro, nevertheless, said the Philippine government would cooperate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), once it seeks assistance if and when the arrest order against dela Rosa is out.

Dela Rosa is among the key personalities who are the subject of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into the drug war launched by Duterte, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a Palace press briefing on March 13.