PNP-CIDG, NBI FAIL TO FIND ICC-WANTED DELA ROSA IN ANGELES CITY

BY KEVIN GALANG

JOINT operatives of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 3 (CIDG-RFU3)  and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday failed to find Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in Angeles City, Pampanga who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

According to CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 chief Col. Grant Gollod,  the operatives conducted the operation at around 5:55 a.m. on Tuesday at a residence on Misael Street in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City.

The operation involved personnel from the CIDG RFU3 Regional Special Operations Team, Angeles City Field Unit, Pampanga Provincial Field Unit, the National Bureau of Investigation Organized and Transnational Crime Division, and the City Mobile Force Company of the Angeles City Police Office.

The serving of the ICC arrest warrant yielded negative results after authorities failed to find dela Rosa at the target location.

Police said the operation stemmed from information received by the unit indicating that the senator was allegedly hiding at the said house.

Authorities also received a tip that the driver of the vehicle last seen with dela Rosa supposedly resides at the same address.

The tracker team later proceeded to the area to verify the information and coordinated with Bgy. Balibago kagawad Ednel A. Batac and Maribel Gadong-Cariño, wife of Purok leader Virgilio Cariño Sr., who assisted and witnessed the operation.

During validation, authorities learned that the property is owned by Maribel Gadong-Cariño, who is married to Virgilio Cariño Sr., allegedly identified by authorities as the driver of the vehicle reportedly used in assisting dela Rosa’s escape.

Investigators further determined that the house is currently being leased to a certain Vina Espiña Pentajoy.

No further details were immediately released regarding the senator’s whereabouts or any succeeding operations.   

However, there were reports that the home visited by the operatives was allegedly owned by the uncle of Sen. Robin Padilla.

Padilla is reportedly facing obstruction of justice charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for helping dela Rosa escape from the Senate.