Malacanang called on Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who is said to be protected by a ''powerful group'' in Mindanao, to surrender and avoid a potential bloodshed if authorities try to arrest him using force.

''Sumuko ka na kasi para wala nang dugong dadanak,'' said Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro in a Palace briefing on Wednesday.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday Dela Rosa, who has an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, left the Senate on May 14, is being protected by an armed group. Remulla said he has been resorting to negotiations to secure Dela Rosa because arresting him may result in bloodshed.

The ICC arrest warrant is about his alleged involvement as national police chief during former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs

The protection of a "powerful group" to Dela Rosa is considered a threat to national security, Castro said.

Castro said that it is "very alarming" that a group protecting Dela Rosa is capable of causing a "bloody encounter" with government forces.

"Yes, definitely, absolutely, because these kinds of groups-- although we have no personal knowledge of what group this is and if there is any-- I cannot share it unless I am told that I can share it, they are the ones destroying the institution. They are the ones undermining law enforcement," Castro said when asked if it is considered "as a national security threat".

She noted that the armed group protecting Dela Rosa should also be held accountable for possible violation of the law.

"Once the evidence is provided, a case should be filed. The evidence should be complete, with due process. Not just to malign or pin down or put down any organization. We should have more evidence. But what Secretary Jonvic Remulla said, that it would be bloody if he is arrested, alarming, very alarming," Castro said.

"Is this a friend of Senator Bato Dela Rosa? Shouldn't we also know what group this is so they can be held accountable for whatever abuses of the law they are committing," she added. Robina Asido/PHS