Camp Crame, Quezon City. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
The one-week deadline for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to surrender ran out on Friday, October 30, 2026, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) says it has stepped up its manhunt with tracker teams in every region. Dela Rosa, who faces an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over the Duterte-era drug war, did not turn himself in, and his lawyer maintains there is no legal basis to arrest him.
Here is what changed, what both sides are saying, and what to watch next.
What happened when the surrender deadline lapsed?
The PNP gave dela Rosa a week to surrender on October 23, after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) offered a P50-million reward for his arrest (Inquirer, Oct 30; ABS-CBN News, Oct 30). The government had also tagged him a fugitive. When Friday passed with no surrender, police said the search would intensify (The Manila Times, Oct 31).
Lt. Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez, who leads the PNP task force assigned to find the senator, said the force has reorganized into teams per region. “The PNP’s objective remains clear, and that is to arrest Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa,” Lopez said, adding that the PNP “is determined to bring the matter to a lawful resolution” (Inquirer; OneNews.PH, Oct 31).
Where is Bato dela Rosa now?
Nobody has said publicly. Lopez said that, based on Bureau of Immigration records, dela Rosa has not left the country (ABS-CBN News; The Manila Times). That rules out, for now, the reports that he slipped out through the southern backdoor.
Police are still checking claims that an armed group in Mindanao is protecting him. These are unverified: the PNP says it is validating the reports, and it told ABS-CBN it has not identified any specific group (The Manila Times; OneNews.PH). Police say tips from the public hotline have poured in and each one is being checked.
Has dela Rosa offered to surrender?
No. The PNP said it has received no surrender feelers from the senator or his camp (ABS-CBN News; The Manila Times). Police say the option of a voluntary surrender remains open even after the deadline. President Marcos had earlier ordered that any arrest be peaceful, as we reported when the bounty was announced: Marcos orders peaceful arrest of Bato as P50M bounty deadline runs.
What does dela Rosa’s lawyer say?
His counsel, Israelito Torreon, argues that the manhunt has no basis. He says the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has not issued a “red notice” for dela Rosa, which in his view is needed before Philippine police can act on an ICC warrant, and that no Philippine court has issued a warrant against the senator (Inquirer; OneNews.PH).
“I hope the PNP personnel would only follow lawful orders. If the order is doubtful, I hope they will act accordingly,” Torreon told reporters (Inquirer; OneNews.PH).
The ICC warrant alleges that dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, was a co-perpetrator in the drug war. These are allegations; he has not been tried, and the camp of former President Rodrigo Duterte has long disputed the ICC’s jurisdiction over the Philippines. For the background on that fight, read the ICC and Duterte: jurisdiction, evidence and what happens next.
Why does this matter for the Duterte ICC case?
Dela Rosa’s case runs alongside the ICC trial of former President Duterte, which is set to open on November 30. Our Duterte ICC case timeline tracks every step so far, and ICC drops one killing from the Duterte case explains the latest change to the charges. The political temperature is also high at home, with the Senate trial of Vice President Sara Duterte still going: see what’s next in the Sara Duterte impeachment trial.
FAQ
Is there a Philippine arrest warrant for Bato dela Rosa?
His lawyer says no Philippine court has issued one. The government is acting on the ICC warrant and has declared him a fugitive.
How much is the reward for dela Rosa’s arrest?
P50 million, offered by the DILG.
Is dela Rosa still in the Philippines?
According to the PNP, which cites Bureau of Immigration records, yes.
Can he still surrender after the deadline?
Yes. The PNP says voluntary surrender remains open.
Sources: Inquirer (Oct 30, 2026); ABS-CBN News (Oct 30, 2026); The Manila Times (Oct 31, 2026); OneNews.PH (Oct 31, 2026). Featured photo: Camp Crame, PNP headquarters, Quezon City, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
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