Rowegie Abanto

Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa speaks to the media on May 13, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Ronald Dela Rosa speaks to the media during an ambush interview at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to address ongoing issues pertaining to the ICC arrest warrant. Dela Rosa appeals for understanding and sympathy from his fellow uniformed service comrades.

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SENATE- DELA ROSA

Katrina Domingo

Zyann Ambrosio

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177976072043220260513-senate-ronald-bato-dela-rosa-MT4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa speaks to the media on May 13, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it was processing the cancellation of the licenses for Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s over 100 firearms. </p><p>The PNP’s statement comes after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier said that it requested the revocation of the licenses that give Dela Rosa a right to own and carry several firearms, as the police chief-turned-lawmaker continued to evade an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).</p><p>“The concerned office of the PNP is processing for the revocation. It is 100 plus, hindi ko matandaan yung eksakto but it is 100 plus,” PNP chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez said. </p><p>“Soon ma-aano na yun, mabilis na yun,” he told reporters in a chance interview. </p><p>The Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) later confirmed that it has recommended the cancellation of Dela Rosa&#x27;s firearms licenses.</p><p>PNP-FEO legal officer PLt. Col. Domer Tadeo said authorities immediately conducted a motu proprio investigation after the Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the enforcement of the arrest warrant. </p><p>&quot;We have already gathered the necessary evidence tungkol doon sa pag-cancel or pag-revoke sa LTOPF (License to Own and Possess Firearms) at the firearm registration ng ating butihing senador. And we have already evaluated kung ano &#x27;yung ground na gagamitin, in as far as that ICC warrant of arrest is concerned,&quot; Tadeo said. </p><p>The recommendation was based on Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, which states that a person who is currently an accused in a pending criminal case punishable with a penalty of more than two years cannot possess a firearms license.</p><p>Police said Dela Rosa will formally be notified once the PNP-FEO finalizes its decision. </p><p>&quot;The decision is lodged with our chief FEO as the delegated authority. The good senator will be notified of such cancellation, and with that, kaakibat niya ‘yung confiscation ng mga baril,&quot; Tadeo said.</p><p>Based on the NBI’s cancellation request to the PNP, Dela Rosa allegedly has 118 registered firearms. These include semi-automatic and select-fire rifles, UZI submachine gun variants, high-powered .338 caliber rifles, battlefield-grade shotguns, and various handguns reportedly registered at his address in Davao City.</p><p>The NBI argued that the continued lawful possession of the firearms posed &quot;extraordinary and disproportionate peril&quot; to law enforcement officers tasked with serving the ICC warrant.</p><p>When asked if it was normal for the PNP to allow a civilian to own over a hundred firearms, Nartatez said: “If he was given the license, pwede naman kasi may mga level naman, category.”</p><p>NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Dela Rosa&#x27;s high-powered firearms include automatic rifles and shotgun, which makes him “armed and dangerous.”  </p><p>The PNP said Dela Rosa may either surrender the firearms voluntarily or file a motion for reconsideration through his legal counsel. </p><p>Authorities warned that police legal action may follow should he ignore the looming FEO decision.</p><p>Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Tuesday said he expected that the gun licenses of Dela Rosa would be &quot;revoked the soonest possible time.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/nearly-60-ph-mayors-urge-senate-not-to-tolerate-bato-s-absenteeism-1239">&#x27;Unacceptable&#x27;: Nearly 60 PH mayors urge Senate not to tolerate Bato’s &#x27;absenteeism&#x27;</a></div><p>&quot;I&#x27;ll talk with General Nartatez about that, and I expect it should be revoked the soonest possible time,&quot; Vida said.</p><p>Dela Rosa went into hiding in November 2025 after receiving word that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him in connection to President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs that killed thousands of suspected drug users and peddlers, including minors.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/26/doj-to-request-info-from-jimmy-bondoc-about-dela-rosa-s-location-0848">DOJ to request &#x27;info&#x27; from Jimmy Bondoc about Dela Rosa&#x27;s location</a></div><p>Dela Rosa reemerged at the Senate on May 11 to register a crucial vote to install Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the chamber&#x27;s new leader and ahead of Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment by the House of Representatives. </p><p>Days later, the senator snuck out of the Senate and again went into hiding following chaos due to a shootout.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/25/dela-rosa-s-wife-asks-judiciary-don-t-be-an-accessory-to-bringing-my-husband-to-the-hague-1346">Dela Rosa’s wife asks judiciary: ‘Don&#x27;t be an accessory to bringing my husband to The Hague’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHERE IS DELA ROSA?  </strong></div><p>Nartatez said that police officers were tracing Dela Rosa’s whereabouts.</p><p>“Malaki ang Philippine National Police… I have dedicated trackers, manhunt people,” he said.</p><p>“We will implement the warrant of arrest and mayroon tayong resources,” he said.</p><p>The PNP will observe “procedures in implementing a warrant” once Dela Rosa is located, Nartatez said.</p><p>“We follow orders, we follow the procedures,” he said.</p><p>The PNP chief was also asked how the police is preparing for the expected release of more arrest warrants against other co-perpetrators in Duterte’s crimes against humanity case before the ICC, which include former chiefs of police as well as incumbent Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.</p><p>“Madadagdagan yung ating mga wanted persons or the subject for the implementation of a warrant,” Nartatez said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SUBPOENA  </strong></div><p>A special panel of prosecutors has meanwhile issued a subpoena to the Office of the Senate Secretary requesting the production of documents relevant to the ongoing investigation into the May 13 chaos in the chamber, Vida said.</p><p>The prosecutors, he said, asked for the oath of office of suspended acting Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca&#x27;s oath of office. </p><p>An inventory of firearms &quot;available and owned&quot; by the Senate and their issuance documents to corresponding Senate officials and employees has been requested, he said.</p><p>Security logs, where persons going in and out of the Senate premises can be viewed, is a subject of the subpoena, too, according to Vida.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/24/nbi-teams-monitoring-3-areas-bato-dela-rosa-might-be-hiding-1343">NBI teams monitoring 3 areas Bato Dela Rosa might be hiding</a></div><p>Moreover, the Commission on Audit and the PNP are directed to provide records relating to the inventory of assets, particularly firearms owned by the Senate.</p><p>The prosecutors also seek records pertaining to ownership of the 9mm CZ Scorpion Evo3, which authorities believe was used by Aplasca during the shootout.</p><p>The PNP has acknowledged the subpoena issued by the DOJ to the PNP-FEO in relation to the firearms involved in the May 13 to 14 gun-related incident at the Senate.</p><p>In a statement, the PNP said the subpoena covers the submission of an inventory of firearms registered under Senate ownership, as well as records related to the ownership of a firearm seen in a circulating video connected to the incident. </p><p>The subpoena also seeks other relevant information and data tied to the investigation.</p><p>&quot;The PNP respects the ongoing investigation of the Department of Justice and assures its full cooperation with all lawful processes, including the submission of documents and other relevant records as may be required,&quot; the statement read.</p><p>The PNP added that it remains committed to &quot;transparency, accountability, and due process,&quot; and continues to coordinate with concerned agencies as the matter is being addressed.</p><p>&quot;The PNP will abide by the findings of the appropriate investigative bodies in accordance with established procedures,&quot; it added.</p><p>Vida warned that witness tampering, misleading authorities, and delaying legal processes could amount to obstruction of justice.</p><p>He said that if a government official is found guilty of obstruction of justice, they could face an accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SEcb15oq56A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qGb5P7FkerY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it was processing the cancellation of the licenses for Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s over 100 firearms.</p>

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Tuesday it was processing the cancellation of the licenses for Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s over 100 firearms.

PNP processing revocation of Dela Rosa license for over 100 firearms

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PNP processing revocation of Dela Rosa license for over 100 firearms

Katrina Domingo,

Rowegie Abanto,

Zyann Ambrosio,

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2026 10:22 AM PHT

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Updated May 26, 2026 06:31 PM PHT

Read More:

Fredderick Vida

DOJ

Department of Justice

Ronald Dela Rosa

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