A video circulating online with a headline claiming that police officers have arrested fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa suggests he is the one being handcuffed in the video. This is false.
A Facebook user uploaded on Oct. 24 a 34-second reel with an overlaid text that read:
“50M. BASTA OPAW KA. SI BATO HULI NA (50M. YOU’RE JUST BALD. BATO IS ARRESTED).”
The video also carried the caption:
“DAHIL SA 50 MILLION NA PABUYA NANGANGAMBA NAMAN NGAYON YONG MGA MAY OPAW NA ULO DAHIL BAKA SILA AY MAPAGKAMALAN.
(Because of the 50-million reward, bald-headed individuals are now worried because they might be mistaken for the person sought).”
This video was taken on Nov. 8, 2024, when former Cebu City administrator Collin Rosell was handcuffed by authorities for usurpation of authority.
Rosell’s face was clearly caught on the 26-second mark of the video. A Google reverse image search also led to videos of the lawyer’s arrest in 2024, which was publicized by news pages.
Dela Rosa is still being tracked down by a police task force, said PNP spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co in a press briefing on Oct. 26.
“Acting on the orders from no less than the President himself to intensify the manhunt for Sen. Dela Rosa, ay nagtayo tayo ng bagong mga dedicated tracker teams for the purpose, and the full force of the PNP is in play para to bring the senator within the folds of the law,” Co said.
The erroneous claim surfaced following Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s announcement of a P50-million bounty for the senator’s arrest.
Dela Rosa is a subject of a warrant from the International Criminal Court over his role in the Duterte administration’s drug war.
As of writing, the post by an FB personal account has garnered 3,600 reactions, 586 comments, 355 shares, and 398,000 views.
