Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa grants an interview on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in the Senate. | Associated Press Photo/Aaron Favila
MANILA, Philippines — Under under existing rules, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is already presumed to be “armed and dangerous,” as the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) continues its manhunt for the senator to serve the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), NBI chief Melvin Matibag said on Saturday.
Matibag made the statement when asked if the agency views Bato dela Rosa as armed and dangerous, given that the senator’s whereabouts have been unknown since he slipped out of the Senate premises following a May 14 shooting incident.
“It’s our standard protocol that if we’re doing an operation or locating a fugitive from justice, our presumption is that they’re already armed and dangerous,” Matibag said at the Saturday News Forum.
READ: NBI to turn over Bato dela Rosa to DOJ once arrested – Matibag
