The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) confirmed on Wednesday that it will continue to follow the rule of law and proper police procedures regarding the situation of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, including the reported cancellation of licenses for his firearms.
DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero said they have not yet received any directive from Camp Crame regarding the arrest of the senator.
According to Caballero, the police are currently only conducting monitoring operations on Dela Rosa’s whereabouts should he be in Davao City.
She explained that any action would depend on instructions coming from the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership through the regional and city police hierarchy.
“And then kung naa may mga instructions, coming from our Chief PNP, and then with the Regional Director nato sa atoang City Director, nga kami ang mo-operate, so, that’s the time siguro ang atoang Davao City Police Office mo-tuman ta kung unsay mga instructions,” she added.
Caballero further revealed that the Chief PNP, through the regional and city police leadership, has instructed all 19 police stations and support units in Davao City to monitor the senator’s possible presence in their areas of responsibility.
“Ang amoang papel lang gyud diri, kay wala man mi gunitan nga arrest warrant sa atoang Senator Bato, ang amoang lang gyud is monitoring sa iyaha tanan nga properties diri sa atoang area of responsibility,” she said.
Meanwhile, Caballero stressed that as of this writing, the DCPO has not received any legal document authorizing them to conduct operations to confiscate the senator’s firearms.
Caballero reiterated that the DCPO has not received any order to confiscate the firearms of Dela Rosa.
“But for the meantime, with regards sa request sa atoang NBI sa revocation, wala pa tayong na-receive na any proper document nga mag-conduct ta og operation to confiscate that more than 100 firearms nga ipa-revoke po sa NBI,” she said.
Under existing rules, the PNP, through its Firearms and Explosives Office, has the authority to issue or cancel a person’s License to Own and Possess Firearms (LTOPF) and Permit to Carry Firearms Outside of Residence (PTCFOR).
When asked how the police would ensure a peaceful implementation if an order is eventually issued, Caballero said the DCPO would strictly follow Police Operational Procedures.
“We will always follow the Police Operational Procedure, wala tayong ma-violate nga katungod sa atoang subject or the target nga atoang i-operate. Mao na ang instruction sa atoang City Director dapat fair ta, magamay ug dako man na ang atoang subject, dapat pantay lang ang atoang pag-implement or pagka-conduct og operate,” she added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed on Wednesday, May 27, that the firearms licenses of ICC suspect Senator Ronald dela Rosa have been revoked.
Remulla said Dela Rosa owns around 117 firearms, while the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) placed the count at 118.
