Marcos orders swift arrest of Bato dela Rosa as Senate minority pushes for peaceful talks

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 25, 2026

Photo courtesy: BusinessMirror

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed police to intensify efforts to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, while the Senate minority bloc is urging the government to pursue negotiations to prevent a potentially violent confrontation.

The Palace confirmed the President’s instructions on Saturday, October 24, a day after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced a ₱50-million reward for Dela Rosa’s capture and classified the senator as “armed and dangerous.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos wants authorities to move quickly in enforcing the law and supports the efforts of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ) and law enforcement agencies.

“Mas mabilis at agresibong pagkilos ng mga pulis — ‘yan ang utos ng Pangulo. Ipatupad ang batas at hulihin ang dapat na hulihin,” Castro said.

The directive comes as police continue searching for Dela Rosa, who has remained out of public view since May following the release of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him.

Senate minority calls for dialogue and due process

Despite the government’s intensified pursuit, the Senate minority bloc appealed to Marcos and concerned agencies to consider a negotiated resolution with Dela Rosa’s legal team.

In a joint statement, the senators expressed support for Dela Rosa’s right to due process and his stated willingness to answer the accusations against him before Philippine courts.

The bloc acknowledged the government’s responsibility to enforce the law but maintained that the situation could be resolved without putting lives at risk.

“We believe a peaceful resolution that respects our laws and protects lives remains possible,” the senators said.

They also offered to help facilitate discussions between authorities and Dela Rosa’s lawyers, urging everyone involved to exercise restraint and keep communication open.

The minority welcomed Remulla’s expressed preference for negotiations over an arrest operation that could endanger lives.

The senators also raised concerns about Philippine sovereignty and the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute in 2019, calling for careful consideration of the legal process surrounding the ICC warrant.

Police give Dela Rosa one week to surrender

The appeal followed Remulla’s announcement on October 23 that the government would offer ₱50 million for information leading to Dela Rosa’s capture.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also gave the senator one week to surrender.

Authorities have classified Dela Rosa as armed and dangerous as they continue efforts to locate him.

Castro defended the government’s position, saying the situation could have been avoided had Dela Rosa surrendered instead of remaining in hiding.

She also criticized individuals who allegedly helped the senator leave the Senate premises when authorities were attempting to serve the warrant.

While emphasizing the need for decisive police action, Castro said authorities should avoid unnecessary loss of life.

“Walang dapat mamatay sa pagganap sa tungkulin ng mga pulis para maaresto si Sen. Bato,” she said.

The Palace maintained that police would continue pursuing Dela Rosa and urged those involved to cooperate with authorities.

ICC warrant linked to Duterte drug war

Dela Rosa is wanted by the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity connected to the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The senator served as the country’s first national police chief under Duterte and led the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018.

According to the ICC, the warrant was originally issued under seal on November 6, 2025, and made public on May 11, 2026.

The court alleges that Dela Rosa bears criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator in murders committed between July 2016 and April 2018, involving at least 32 victims.

Dela Rosa has denied wrongdoing and maintained that he should be allowed to answer the accusations before Philippine courts.

The Philippines withdrew from the ICC’s founding treaty in 2019, although the court maintains jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed during the period covered by its investigation.

As authorities continue the search, the Senate minority is pressing for talks that would protect Dela Rosa’s legal rights while allowing the government to pursue the case.

No agreement on a negotiated surrender has been announced.