The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday gave Senator Ronald Dela Rosa one week to surrender as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced the P50 million bounty for his arrest.

Speaking before the reporters in Camp Crame in Quezon City, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the former PNP chief will be considered as armed and dangerous, stressing that his continued evasion of authorities must end.

Dela Rosa reappeared in the Senate after a six-month absence on May 12 to vote on the Senate leadership. His absence was forced by reports of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged crimes of humanity in former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

After a shooting incident in the Senate, Dela Rosa left on May 14.

“We have given him (Sen. dela Rosa) all the courtesy that could be afforded a senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and he has shown nothing but cowardice by going into and remaining in hiding,” he said.

“Senator Bato mistook my gesture of negotiation as a sign of weakness. Now the gloves have to come off. It is time to bring justice to his victims,” he added.

Remulla disclosed that a task force headed by PNP Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Wilson Joseph Lopez will locate and arrest the senator.

The task force will oversee operational and tactical measures to bring Dela Rosa before the ICC, which issued the arrest warrant against him in November 2025.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. give Dela Rosa the ultimatum to surrender.

"Senator Bato Dela Rosa has one week to surrender and we are preparing for that. We are giving him the option to surrender," he said.

Nartatez also assures that "whoever coddles him (Dela Rosa) will face the consequences if proven that they are coddling (him)" .

Remulla said "next month November, marks one year since the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for Senator Ronald Dela Rosa for his criminal responsibility in the deaths due to the Duterte administration’s policy on the war on drugs”. Robina Asido/PHS