The Philippine National Police (PNP) underscored its commitment to lawful enforcement measures and proper arrest procedures amid the circulation of social media claims calling for alleged extreme actions against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame on Tuesday, PNP spokesperson Allen Rae Co clarified that the photo of Dela Rosa circulating on social media during Undas was an old image and did not show the senator making a public appearance.
“If we are talking about the same picture sa Digos, it was confirmed by our tech team it was an old picture, luma na ito and the one who posted himself or the owner of the picture himself commented na ito ay three years ago na (If we are talking about the same picture in Digos, it was confirmed by our tech team it was an old picture, it is already old and the one who posted or the owner of the picture himself commented that it was three years ago),” Co said.
He said authorities will investigate information circulating online, including whether the photo was deliberately used to mislead the public, warning that such actions could have consequences.
“Sinabi natin dati yan lalo na doon sa hotline natin na it’s possible they may be facing criminal cases if their intent is to mislead, to obstruct and ma-flood yung ating hotline (We said that before, especially on our hotline, that it’s possible they may face criminal cases if their intent is to mislead, to obstruct and flood our hotline),” he added.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. stressed that police operations must remain anchored on legal processes regardless of the personality involved.
“The PNP does not subscribe to a shoot-to-kill approach. Our mandate is to enforce the law, not to take the law into our own hands. Every operation must be guided by due process, respect for human rights, and the rule of law,” Nartatez said in a statement.
The statement came after Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan denied social media posts falsely attributing to him a supposed call for a “shoot-to-kill” resolution against Dela Rosa. Suan described the circulating statement as fabricated and emphasized that he never made such a remark.
Dela Rosa remains the subject of an arrest warrant issued in connection with crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court. The one-week deadline for his surrender expired on Oct. 30.
Nartatez said public clamor for accountability should not override established legal safeguards.
“We understand the public’s desire for accountability, but justice must never be pursued at the expense of the law. Let us allow law enforcement authorities to do their job professionally and impartially because the strength of justice lies not in the use of excessive force, but in the faithful enforcement of the law,” he said.
Nartatez directed concerned police units to sustain intelligence-gathering and monitoring efforts to help establish Dela Rosa’s whereabouts and facilitate the implementation of the warrant in accordance with established legal procedures.
He also reiterated the prohibition against excessive force and reminded all personnel that any operation related to the serving of warrants must observe maximum restraint, proportionality, and respect for human rights.
“The credibility of law enforcement rests not only on our ability to enforce the law but on our discipline in doing so within the limits prescribed by law. The PNP will continue to perform its mandate professionally, impartially, and without fear or favor,” Nartatez said. (PNA)