AFP willing to help Bato dela Rosa's arrest if requested

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The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it is willing to assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the possible arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa if requested.

At a press briefing, AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the PNP remains the lead agency in law enforcement operations but the military is prepared to provide support when necessary.

“Kapag meron pong request to our end, then tumutugon naman po tayo dyan,” she said.

(When there is a request to our end, then we respond to it.)

Padilla noted that the AFP has historically participated in arrest operations and other law enforcement efforts.

“Kung ano po yung magagampanan ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, we're very willing po to assist from intelligence gathering, towards operations that should mandate na kailangan po yung presence ng AFP,” she said.

(As for the role that the AFP will play, we're very willing to assist from intelligence gathering, towards operations that should mandate that the presence of the AFP is necessary.)

“Sa ngayon po, these are merely speculations pa po sa side natin na, like certain numbers and all ano. But, of course, we leave the planning and then do the execution kung ano po yung role that we have to play, then we will do so,” she added.

(For now, these are merely speculations on our side, like certain numbers and all that. But, of course, we leave the planning and then do the execution as to the role that we have to play, then we will do so.)

Asked whether armed groups could pose significant risk to such an operation, Padilla cited the AFP's reports of declining insurgent numbers and the declaration of more areas as insurgency-free or cleared of insurgent threats.

She said that based on reports from the military, no group is currently capable of conducting large-scale and major atrocities in the country.

Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the crimes against humanity case involving former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The senator is accused of being a co-perpetrator in the alleged crimes.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier claimed that Dela Rosa was hiding in Mindanao and was being protected by an armed and powerful group.

A P50-million reward is being offered for information that would lead to the senator’s arrest. — BAP, GMA News