‘Bato last spotted in Mindanao’

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is hiding somewhere in Mindanao, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla as he denied rumors circulating in social media that the fugitive senator was arrested on Tuesday.

“There has been no arrest for Sen. Bato. There has been a lot of speculations that he has been apprehended and he is being whisked away to The Hague, those aren’t true,” he told reporters yesterday.

He also denied speculations of some netizens that the government kept Dela Rosa’s arrest under wraps to prevent his supporters from holding demonstrations.

Once Dela Rosa is apprehended, Remulla said they will strictly observe all legal procedures and established protocols in accordance with the rule of law.

“He will be booked, he will be made to appear in court and then for extradition,” he said.

Philippine Air Force spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco also clarified yesterday that Dela Rosa has not been brought to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, contrary to circulating reports.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said their offices have also not received information on the senator being arrested.

Dela Rosa’s lawyer Israelito Torreon dismissed the speculation over radio dzRH last Tuesday, saying “we have no news.”

Malacañang yesterday linked the allies of Vice President Sara Duterte to the rumor, saying it is an attempt to divert attention from the questionable transactions discussed during her impeachment trial.

Palace press officer Claire Castro yesterday pointed out that the posts of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Dela Rosa’s lawyer Jimmy Bondoc have no context after the two published cryptic posts on social media that were widely seen as related to the legal troubles of Dela Rosa.