MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it will not grant special treatment to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following the issuance of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him for alleged crimes against humanity.

In a report, it said that PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. made the assurance during a Palace briefing, stressing that law enforcement agencies will carry out their duties without bias.

“Wala po tayong (We have no) special treatment. We implement the law without fear or favor,” Nartatez said.

He added that in enforcing arrest warrants, the PNP coordinates closely with other law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice.

Following the commotion at the Senate on Wednesday night, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said no directive was issued to arrest Dela Rosa.

This was reiterated by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing on Thursday.

“Walang operasyon ang NBI o PNP na arestuhin si Senator Bato,” Castro said.

(There is no operation by the NBI or PNP to arrest Senator Bato.)

A senator who declined to be named said Dela Rosa is no longer at the Senate. According to the Senate secretariat, he left the premises early Thursday morning, around 2:30 a.m.

The senator also said Dela Rosa was last seen with his staff boarding an elevator on Wednesday after coming from the office of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Dela Rosa had resurfaced only last Monday after reportedly being out of public view for six months.