PNP: Bato's security recalled due to Comelec rule; 4 retained due to exemption

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued a clarification Wednesday after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said that his two security officers detailed to his residence in Davao City were recalled.

PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said Dela Rosa’s security escorts were pulled out in light of the election period regulation on the availing security details.

“Inalis na po yan noon pa pong January 13 pursuant nga po dito sa Comelec Resolution bilang pagsunod doon sa protocol pagdating sa availment po ng security detail,” she said.

(They were removed as early as January 13 pursuant to the Comelec Resolution following the protocol when it comes to the availing of security detail.)

“So hindi po totoo yung kumakalat na balita na ngayon lamang po yan inalis,” she added.

(So the information circulating that it was removed only now is not true.)

Fajardo noted that there are still four protective security personnel assigned to Dela Rosa, which are provided because they were approved by the Comelec.

“Nakalimutan na marahil banggitin ng ating kagalang-galang na senador na meron pong naka-detail sa kanya na apat na protective security personnel na meron po ‘yan na approved na certificate of authority or exemption from the Comelec at tatagal po yan yung authority po na yan hanggang June 11, 2025,” she said.

(Our honorable senator probably forgot to mention that he has four protective security personnel detailed to him who have an approved certificate of authority or exemption from the Comelec and that authority will last until June 11, 2025.)

“So malinaw po na yung dalawa po ay ni-recall doon po na naka-assign po yun sa Davao dahil wala po yan na application or approved na certificate of authority or exemption sa Comelec,” she added.

(So it is clear that the two assigned in Davao were recalled because they did not have an application or approved certificate of authority or exemption from the Comelec.)

On Tuesday, Dela Rosa said that the PNP has recalled two security officers who were detailed to his residence in Davao City.

"Itong pag-uwi ko dito sa Davao wala na akong security. Pinapa-report na sila sa unit nila," Dela Rosa told reporters in a phone interview.

(When I returned here in Davao City, my security detail was already gone. They were asked to report to their unit.)

"Nag-iistambay sila dito… Pagdating ko dito wala na sila dahil pina-report na sila," he added.

(They are staying here. When I arrived, they are no longer here because they were told to report to their unit.)

This developed after former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in accordance with a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Dela Rosa, who earlier described himself as the number two accused in the ICC investigation on Duterte's drug war, served as the PNP chief of when the former president launched his campaign against illegal drugs.

The reelectionist senator recently said he is considering hiding and not surrendering in the event authorities implement a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC against him. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News