AFP willing to help law enforcers track down Dela Rosa

By Priam Nepomuceno, Philippine News Agency

Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is willing to assist its police counterparts in the ongoing operations to locate and arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa who is the subject of an International Crime Court (ICC) arrest warrant.

“So, tayo po sa (we at the) AFP, we remain grounded in law and lawful orders. So, in the event that we are required to augment or assist, dyan po tayo magbibigay ng ating serbisyo (that is when we will provide assistance),” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said when asked if the military is helping in the operations to arrest the fugitive senator.

Asked if the military has already been formally tapped to help look for the senator, the AFP spokesperson said: “These are all operational details po that hindi na po natin madi-divulge ( that we cannot divulge).”

She clarified, however, these types of operations are the primary responsibility of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies. “We would like to emphasize na ito pong ganitong operasyon ang (that for these types of operations), (the) frontliners are law enforcement agencies,” Padilla noted.

In a separate interview, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the military “when required and called upon to do it, will always support law enforcement operations.”

Dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief from 2016 to 2018 under former president Rodrigo Duterte, had been under Senate protective custody until he reportedly left the Senate premises at about 2:30 a.m. on May 14. The two are facing charges of crimes against humanity before the international tribunal.

Duterte has been detained at The Hague since last year as his trial has been set for November.

This article is republished from PNA.