MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday (June 4) declined to comment on rumours circulating online that Sen Ronald dela Rosa may have left Metro Manila aboard a yacht.
Speaking during a press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co refused to confirm or deny the rumours, saying that discussing operational details could compromise police personnel and ongoing preparations.
“We would not like to discuss prematurely any operations of the Philippine National Police so as not to compromise our personnel as well as the operation,” Co said.
Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with his alleged participation in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, which killed up to 30,000 people, according to human rights groups.
The senator was last publicly seen leaving the Senate premises with Sen Robin Padilla in the early hours of May 14, hours after the shooting incident inside the upper chamber’s compound.
Padilla earlier said he dropped dela Rosa off in Makati City but did not know where the former police chief went afterward.
Earlier in the day, National Bureau of Investigation director Melvin Matibag expressed caution regarding reportes that the senator may have left the country by a yacht, noting that the supposed lead could be intended to mislead authorities. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
