DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 May 2026) — Police in Davao Region are searching for Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who has been in hiding since May 14 after briefly appearing at the Senate. Maj. Catherine dela Rey, spokesperson for Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao, confirmed that authorities are monitoring the area in case the fugitive senator has fled Manila and sought refuge in Davao.
The Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU) 11 revoked Dela Rosa’s firearms license and canceled his firearm registrations on Wednesday, following a request from NBI director Melvin Matibag. The senator owns 118 firearms, including high-powered rifles and submachine guns, stored at his Davao City residence.
Matibag stated that Dela Rosa is disqualified from possessing firearms under Republic Act 10591 due to the ICC’s arrest warrant, which accuses him of crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war. The ICC charges carry penalties of up to 30 years or life imprisonment, meeting the legal threshold for firearm prohibition.
The revocation order was served to Dela Rosa’s lawyer, Vicente Adrian Pajaro, with PRO-Davao emphasizing compliance with legal procedures. Matibag warned that law enforcers serving the ICC warrant face heightened danger as long as Dela Rosa retains access to his weapons.
Dela Rosa is accused of co-perpetrating crimes against humanity, prompting the ICC’s judicial determination of his criminal liability. His firearm license is now void, requiring mandatory cancellation by authorities. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
