Philippine interior minister says talks continue to secure Bato dela Rosa's surrender

The Department of the Interior and Local Government disclosed that negotiations are underway with the militia currently guarding Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in Mindanao, aiming for his voluntary surrender. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stressed that a direct police operation could trigger massive casualties, citing a figure of up to 10,000 potential deaths, and therefore prefers dialogue. Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged indirect participation in crimes against humanity between July 2016 and April 2018, a period that saw at least 32 fatalities.

An earlier attempt to serve the ICC warrant on May 11 resulted in a chase inside the Senate and his subsequent placement under Senate protective custody, from which he left on May 14 and has not reappeared publicly. Remulla expressed regret for not arresting the senator earlier, citing a “gentleman’s agreement” between the Senate and the executive that delayed action. He linked one outlet approach to a similar decision made during the arrest of former Senator Jinggoy Estrada after a breach of that agreement.