Jonvic Remulla: Arresting Sen. dela Rosa could lead to 10,000 deaths

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday that arresting Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was last monitored in Mindanao, could lead to 10,000 deaths.

Remulla said this is the reason why government is resorting to negotiate for his surrender.

In an interview on Tuesday, Remulla said he received information two months ago that dela Rosa is being protected by an “armed” group. He refused to provide further details about this group. 

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“In exchange for the up to 10,000 persons who could die, I would rather negotiate than risk the lives of Filipinos here,” Remulla said.

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“Because you don’t always solve problems with a hammer. Sometimes, you solve things better in a more peaceful and humane way,” he explained.

READ: Remulla: Negotiations underway with Bato dela Rosa’s ‘protectors’

Dela Rosa escaped the Senate building in the early hours of May 14, following the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The arrest order is in connection with the government’s war against illegal drugs during the administration of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

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The senator is among the personalities tagged as co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity case filed against Duterte before the ICC.

Dela Rosa served as the Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2018.

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Around 12,000 to 30,000 individuals were killed during drug war, as per the investigation by then-ICC prosecutor Karim Khan. /apl