MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday called on Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to surrender all remaining firearms still registered under his name to authorities.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the turnover of 20 firearms linked to the senator is a positive step, but stressed the need for full compliance.

“We acknowledge this initial compliance through your legal counsel but we strongly urge you to fully surrender the remaining unaccounted firearms under your name and to formally face the legal processes ahead without further delay,” Nartatez said in a statement.

He said the PNP, through the Civil Security Group and the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU) in Region 11, supervised the voluntary turnover of 20 firearms on June 11 in Davao City.

The firearms were surrendered through Dela Rosa’s authorized legal representative following the revocation of his License to Own and Possess Firearms and firearm registrations.

Police conducted inventory checks, serial number verification, and physical inspection before issuing acknowledgment receipts and transferring the firearms to the RCSU-11 office at Camp Sgt. Quintin M. Merecido for safekeeping.

“The voluntary turnover of these 20 firearms by Senator Dela Rosa’s legal representative is a welcome step toward full compliance with the law following the revocation of his gun licenses, but it does not alter or halt our ongoing law enforcement mandates,” Nartatez said.

He added that police operations to locate the senator remain ongoing, as Dela Rosa has reportedly remained out of public view amid the implementation of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.

“Our operations to locate the Senator under existing legal directives remain fully active, and while we appreciate this peaceful, orderly cooperation in accounting for his registered firearms, our local units and tracking teams will continue their coordinated efforts until the primary orders are completely served,” he said.

Nartatez also assured that the PNP will continue enforcing the law impartially while respecting due process.

“The PNP guarantees your safety and due process but the enforcement of the law will remain absolute, impartial, and unswayed by political circumstances,” he added.

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the ICC over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.

He served as PNP chief from 2016 to 2018 under former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte has been detained in The Hague since last year, with his trial scheduled to begin in November.