Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla admitted that he regrets not arresting Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa when the lawmaker appeared at the Senate in May.
Remulla said he honored a prior agreement with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano not to arrest Dela Rosa while he was on Senate premises.
The senator subsequently escaped during the turmoil surrounding a shooting incident involving Senate security personnel and the National Bureau of Investigation.
Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings during the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Remulla said authorities are now pursuing negotiations for Dela Rosa’s surrender because a forceful arrest could cause significant casualties.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 21, 2026
