Manila:Malacañang announced on Thursday that the movements of Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa are becoming increasingly limited as authorities intensify their manhunt efforts for the fugitive lawmaker.

According to Philippines News Agency, authorities have been receiving increased information that could lead to Dela Rosa's arrest. This follows the announcement of a PHP50 million reward for tips regarding his whereabouts. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro mentioned during a press briefing in Bukidnon that reports from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag indicate the receipt of information on Dela Rosa's possible location.

Castro explained that anyone who sees Dela Rosa could immediately report his whereabouts to the PNP and other law enforcement agencies, thereby reducing his ability to move freely. The government has delegated the operational aspects of the manhunt to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), PNP, and other agencies.

She also defended the use of confidential funds for the PHP50-million reward, emphasizing that the funds are meant to support intelligence and law enforcement operations, and should yield tangible results. Castro stressed the importance of sustaining efforts to locate and arrest Dela Rosa, but declined to share further details to maintain operational confidentiality.

Dela Rosa is wanted in connection with the International Criminal Court's investigation into alleged crimes against humanity during the Philippines' anti-drug campaign under former president Rodrigo Duterte. The case involves alleged extrajudicial killings and other abuses linked to the campaign, with Dela Rosa being a key figure during his tenure as Philippine National Police chief when the campaign began in 2016.