EDITORIAL - Why the need for a bounty?

The latest news involving the pursuit of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague after he was accused of crimes against humanity, is that Department of the Interior and Local Government Sec. Jonvic Remulla has offered a ?50-million bounty for his arrest.

“It’s time for the gloves to come off. It’s time to win justice to his victims. As of today, Senator Bato will be considered armed and dangerous. We are placing a bounty of fifty million pesos for his capture," Sec. Remulla said in a news conference.

As it is, there is nothing wrong with offering a bounty for the arrest of an individual or for information leading to the arrest of an individual. This has been done since there have been criminals and lawmen. This is often done to entice others, aside from deputized lawful authorities, into joining the search for a criminal or a wanted person.

However, while it does attract attention from individuals or groups that might have more skills, patience, time, or wherewithal than the authorities to find someone being sought, dangling a bounty also sends the message that the government cannot handle a situation. That is why they are asking for help.

It also raises another question, something that Sen. Panfilo Lacson brought up: If Remulla is so sure of where Sen. Dela Rosa is, why does he still need a juicy bounty? Might this actually mean that the DILG secretary does not know where the fugitive senator is after all, and wants someone to tell him where?

Also, why does the bounty have to be that big?

Policemen are already being paid something to find the fugitive senator, that money is called their salary. Is there really a need to spend more of the people’s money --we assume the bounty will be taken from public coffers-- to go after someone wanted by the law?