Palace challenges Nartatez: PNP must arrest Dela Rosa regardless of ties

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership to ensure that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s former position as PNP chief would not stand in the way of enforcing his arrest warrant.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a television interview last Saturday that the senator’s previous role as top cop complicated the manhunt.

READ: PNP: Viral photo of Bato Dela Rosa at cemetery is ‘old’

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Both dela Rosa and current PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. graduated from the Philippine Military Academy.

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“It makes it more difficult,” Remulla said on the Bilyonaryo News Channel.

But Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a briefing that the administration believes in Nartatez’s capabilities and trusts the police force to fulfill its mandate to arrest their former chief.

“Kung ito po ang opinyon ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla, malamang mayroon siyang nararamdaman, mayroon siyang napapansin. Pero ito ay hamon mismo sa liderato ng DILG, sa liderato mismo ng PNP at sa buong kapulisan dito sa ating bansa,” said Castro at a briefing.

(If this is Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s opinion, he must have felt or observed something. But this challenges DILG leadership, PNP leadership, and the entire police force in the country.)

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The PNP’s role is to enforce the law and carry out orders in accordance with the Constitution, Castro said, adding that police officers should not decide whether or not to arrest dela Rosa simply because he used to be their chief.

“So, hindi sana maging panawagan ito para hindi kumilos ang kapulisan; hamon ito mismo kay General Nartatez Jr.,” said Castro.

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(So, this should not be taken as a call for the police to refrain from acting. Rather, it is a challenge to General Nartatez Jr.)

“Kilala po natin mismo si General Nartatez Jr. at alam natin na ang nangunguna sa kaniya ay ang kaniyang obligasyon, hindi ang kaniyang pakikipagkaibigan o pakikipag-alyado sa sino man dapat na arestuhin,” she also said.

(We know General Nartatez Jr. personally, and we know that what guides him is his duty, not his friendships or alliances with anyone who should be arrested.)

READ: PNP rejects ‘shoot-to-kill’ calls vs. Bato Dela Rosa

Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has so far shown no signs of frustration over the ongoing manhunt for dela Rosa, as long as he sees police officers and the Department of the Interior and Local Government leadership performing their duties.

However, she warned that the situation would become difficult if it is established that police officers themselves are harboring dela Rosa to prevent his arrest.

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Dela Rosa, who previously served as PNP chief under former President Rodrigo Duterte, is the subject of an arrest warrant over crimes against humanity charges filed before the International Criminal Court. He went into hiding after reappearing at the Senate last May 11. /jpv