While activists and government critics are publicly vilified through wanted posters and terror-tagging, the Philippine National Police (PNP) sees no need to put up similar notices for Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

Human rights groups KARAPATAN and Hustisya criticized the PNP’s double standards. They asked why the police readily resort to public shaming and vilification against ordinary Filipinos but exercise restraint toward a former police chief facing international charges.

In a statement on October 30, Atty. VJ Topacio, national board member of Hustisya and a relative of victims of killings under the Rodrigo Duterte administration, pointed to the police’s practice of putting up posters, streamers, and banners targeting activists, critics, and marginalized communities. 

Dela Rosa served as PNP chief during Duterte’s presidency and was among the principal figures behind the administration’s bloody war on drugs. Thousands were killed in police operations and other drug-related killings, leaving families demanding justice and accountability.

KARAPATAN Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said that the former police chief should not be treated differently simply because of his political position and connections. “Bato dela Rosa is a fugitive from justice, a former PNP chief with an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. He has evaded arrest and remains in hiding instead of facing the charges against him.”

For the groups, the PNP’s reluctance to put up wanted notices exposes the unequal application of state power, particularly when those being pursued are ordinary people versus former government officials.

“The irony is glaring: a former police chief who once wielded the authority of the State now refuses to submit himself to legal process,” Topacio said.

Palabay questioned why people exercising their democratic rights are readily subjected to state vilification while a former high-ranking official facing an international arrest warrant is treated with extraordinary restraint. “People exercising their rights should not be treated as enemies of the State, while a powerful former official wanted under an actual arrest warrant is afforded extraordinary restraint.”

With ICC proceedings moving closer to trial, families of victims and human rights defenders continue to demand dela Rosa’s immediate arrest and accountability for the killings committed under the Duterte administration.

Palabay said that no political position or former government title should place dela Rosa beyond the reach of justice. “No position, political connection, or former title should shield him from accountability. A man who once commanded the police and now serves as a senator of the Republic cannot be allowed to place himself beyond the reach of justice.”

For families who continue to mourn their loved ones, the demand for justice extends beyond the victims of the drug war. Topacio called for accountability for slain activists and other victims of human rights violations perpetrated by state security forces under Duterte and dela Rosa.

“As we, families of victims of killings remember our departed loved ones during this time, we reiterate our demand for the immediate arrest of Bato dela Rosa and for justice to be served,” Topacio said. (RTS, DAA)