CAGAYAN de Oro City — Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro has urged Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to surrender voluntarily, saying this could save the government the additional cost of arresting him.
Castro appealed during a media briefing in Cagayan de Oro City on Oct. 27, amid reports that the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police were offering a ₱50-million reward for information leading to Dela Rosa’s arrest.
“Ang period na ibinigay para kay Bato Dela Rosa ay para sumuko siya nang maayos nang hindi na gagalaw pa sana ang kapulisan,” Castro said.
She said police would continue pursuing people with outstanding arrest warrants who refuse to surrender.
“Patuloy na hahagilapin at hindi isasawalang-bahala, hindi ito tutulugan lalo na ng ating kapulisan,” she said.
Castro reiterated Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s position that authorities would show “no mercy” in pursuing those who evade arrest.
She also called on Dela Rosa, a former police official, to respect the law and avoid setting an example for others facing arrest warrants.
“Wag siyang maging ehemplo, wag maging modelo sa mga taong mayroong kinakaharap na warrant of arrest at magtatago,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa’s wife appealed to authorities in a Facebook post on Monday to help her husband address his pending case before the International Criminal Court (ICC). She alleged that the case was being used to advance personal agendas.
“He has helped you in countless ways and he has done you no wrong personally,” she wrote.
In response, Castro maintained that Dela Rosa should lead by example by respecting the law, warning against people with arrest warrants hiding from authorities and becoming role models for others.
“Wag siya maging ehemplo ng mga pugante na magtago dahil sa ang gagawing idolo,” Castro said.
