Bato Dela Rosa Arrest: PCO Probes Fake News Peddlers
“We will determine if these online posts are malicious,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said.
President Marcos’ directive to arrest fugitive Sen. Ronald dela Rosa still stands, Malacañang said on Thursday, Aug. 6, as the administration announced a plan to look into online posts that spread false information about the senator’s supposed arrest.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the manhunt for Dela Rosa continues.
According to Castro, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez ordered the government’s anti-fake news desk to probe online posts claiming that Dela Rosa has been arrested.
“We will determine if these online posts are malicious,” the Palace press officer said.
‘Diversionary tactic’
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, Castro linked the allies of Vice President Sara Duterte to rumors about the arrest of Dela Rosa, describing it as an effort to divert attention away from her impeachment trial.
Two of Duterte’s allies posted statements on social media that were viewed as related to Dela Rosa’s case.
Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said someone had betrayed Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa’s lawyer Jimmy Bondoc claimed that “bad news is coming” and urged the public to pray that it is not true “for the good of the nation.”
“They are resorting to timing to drown the revelations of the COA (Commission on Audit) about the hundreds of millions of pesos in confidential funds of VP Sara that were spent without receipts,” Castro said. “You will see the motive in the diversionary tactic of her allies.”
PNP: Manhunt continues
Tracker teams of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have intensified operations to locate Dela Rosa, who is believed to be hiding in Mindanao.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said they continue to receive information daily on where Dela Rosa might be hiding.
Nartatez said among their options are relatives and associates of Dela Rosa who might be coddling the senator.
Dela Rosa has been named as a co-perpetrator of alleged crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the senator’s arrest.
In May, Dela Rosa returned to the Senate after a six-month absence to vote on the chamber’s leadership. He slipped out of the Senate building hours after a shooting incident and has since been in hiding. – With Emmanuel Tupas
