Metro Manila, Philippines – Palace press officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has a standing order to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, after unconfirmed reports circulated that the fugitive-lawmaker was caught.
She also said the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) is investigating misinformation about Dela Rosa’s alleged arrest. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest against the senator for crimes against humanity for murder during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
“Nakausap po natin si [PCO] Sec. Dave Gomez at ipinag-utos na rin po niya sa Anti-Fake News Desk natin na tignan lahat ang nagpapakalat ng fake news katulad ng nangyari sa diumanong pagpapaaresto kay Bato dela Rosa at titignan din natin kung ito ba ay malisyoso,” Castro said in a briefing on Thursday, Aug. 6.
[Translation: Sec. Gomez has ordered the Anti-Fake News Desk to investigate the fake news about the alleged arrest of Dela Rosa and we will see if these are malicious.]
Castro said the charges may be filed once the PCO solidifies its findings and determines those who may be responsible.
“Inaaral pa po kung ano yung mga naipakalat, kung papaano naipakalat, at ano yung mga mensahe. Yun po ay bubusisiin muna at kapag nakita namin kung ano ang dapat naipataw, ibibigay po namin sa inyo kung anong kaso ang pwede sampahan sa kanila,” she said.
[Translation: We’re studying what was spread, how it was spread, and what the message was. We’ll study the matter first and once we determine how to move forward, we will inform you of the cases that can be filed against them.]
Castro previously labeled these reports as a “diversionary tactic” supposedly by allies of Vice President Sara Duterte to distract from Commission on Audit’s findings on her alleged misuse of confidential funds revealed during the impeachment trial.
READ: Palace calls Bato arrest rumors ‘diversionary tactic’ by Duterte allies
Rumors of Dela Rosa’s arrest began circulating on Tuesday, shortly after the adjournment of the August 4 impeachment trial session. Some allies of Duterte made social media posts hinting at a major development in the case.
Lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, a vocal supporter of Duterte, wrote “bad news is coming.”
Harry Roque, former presidential spokesperson to Rodrigo Duterte, made a similar post: “Meron nga daw nang-hudas kay Bato [Someone did betray Bato].”
The Department of Justice, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the National Bureau of Investigation said they have no information about the arrest.
