Malacañang on Tuesday challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership and the entire police force to uphold their mandate and enforce the arrest warrant against Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa, stressing that personal ties should not influence the implementation of the law.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the remarks in response to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s earlier admission that Dela Rosa’s connections within the police force and his ties as a former PNP chief and Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumnus could make efforts to arrest him more difficult.
“Kung ito po ang opinyon ni Secretary Jonvic Remulla malamang mayroon siyang nararamdaman, meron siyang napapansin pero ito ay hamon mismo sa liderato ng DILG, sa liderato mismo ng PNP at sa buong kapulisan dito sa ating bansa,” Castro said during a Palace briefing on Nov. 3.
Castro emphasized that the police are duty-bound to enforce lawful orders, including the arrest warrant against the senator, and cannot decide on their own whether to carry it out based on personal relationships.
“Ang inyong mandato ay magpatupad ng batas, magpatupad ng ibinibigay sainyong order na naaayon naman sa Konstitusyon. May valid warrant of arrest so hindi pwede na kayo ang magdesisyon kung huhulihin niyo o hindi niyo huhulihin si Sen. Bato Dela Rosa. Hindi dahil siya ay dati niyong naging chief at 'yan nga ang narinig natin sa ilang mga abogado mismo ni Sen. Bato kung 'di tayo nagkakamali,” she said.
“Hindi sana maging panawagan ito para hindi kumilos ang kapulisan; hamon ito mismo kay General Nartatez Jr.,” Castro added.
Asked about the Palace’s confidence in PNP chief General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., who is also a PMA alumnus, Castro said she believes the police chief would prioritize his duties over personal friendships or alliances.
“Kilala po natin mismo si General Nartatez Jr. at alam natin na ang nangunguna sa kanya ay ang kanyang obligasyon hindi ang kanyang pakikipagkaibigan o pakikipag-alyado sa sino man dapat na arestuhin,” she said.
Castro added that the Palace continues to trust the competence of the police force and expects its members to remain faithful to their mandate.
She said the administration has so far seen no signs of frustration from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the ongoing efforts to arrest Dela Rosa, as long as the police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) continue performing their duties.
“Sa ngayon ay hindi po nakikitaan ng anumang frustration ang ating pangulo hangga't nakikita niya po na tumutupad sa tungkulin ang ating mga kapulisan at ang um liderato ng DILG. So walang nakikitang frustration,” she said.
However, Castro warned that the situation would become concerning if evidence emerges that police officers themselves are sheltering Dela Rosa to prevent his arrest.
“Ang mahirap lamang po diyan kung talagang makikita at mapapatunayan na mismong mga pulis ang nagkakanlong para hindi mahuli si Senator Bato De Rosa,” she said.
