Viral Facebook posts claim that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may be arrested for fraud and bribery over the government’s P50-million reward for information leading to the capture of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. This is false.
The posts allege that the money is being used to pressure the senator to surrender without a Philippine court-issued arrest warrant.
The viral graphic, posted on Oct. 26, features photos of Marcos in the center, Dela Rosa on the left, and the page owner on the right. It bears this text:
“Pwede ng Arestuhin ng Taong Bayan si Marcos sa kasong Fraud at Bribery! Dahil sa panunuhol ng 50 milyon para Gipitin si Bato gamit ang Pera ng Bayan without Philippine warrant.
(Citizens can now arrest Marcos for fraud and bribery! For bribing someone with ₱50 million to put Bato under pressure using public funds, without a Philippine warrant.)”
Its caption reads:
“Pakikalat Ng Mensahe! Isa kaba sa matapang na handang umaresto Kay Marcos?
(Spread the message! Are you brave enough to arrest Marcos?)”
On Oct. 23, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced a P50-million reward from the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police intelligence funds for information leading to the arrest of Dela Rosa, whom he described as “armed and dangerous.”
On the same day, Dela Rosa’s counsel, the Law Firm of Torreon & Partners, questioned the lack of a Philippine court-issued warrant and the reward’s legal basis. Hours later, these misleading posts spread across pro-Duterte Facebook groups.
Three days later, Malacañang clarified that the use of intelligence and confidential funds for such operations was allowed, “provided authorities could substantiate the operation and show results,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Oct. 26.
In an interview with the state-run media, Radyo Pilipinas, she emphasized that the reward was an operational strategy of the DILG and PNP, not an order from Marcos.
Dela Rosa faces an ICC arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s drug war. In May 2026, the Supreme Court denied his request for a temporary restraining order against possible arrest. That month, he emerged from six months of hiding and took refuge in the Senate for several days.
The post was published by FB pages Makata Ng Bayan (created April 13, 2020) and Pamati Blogger (created Sept. 18, 2025), and was also shared by several other accounts. Collectively, the posts garnered 45,933 reactions, 8,114 comments, and 13,005 shares.
