Joint operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the local police raided a house in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City following reports that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was allegedly hiding there.
Barangay Official Confirms Operation
Barangay Balibago chairman Joseph Ponce said authorities coordinated with him around 5:30 a.m. before carrying out the operation at a house inside Diamond Subdivision owned by a certain Lakay Cariño, whom he identified as the maternal uncle of actor-turned-senator Robin Padilla.
Ponce said he immediately sent barangay officials, including village watchmen and barangay peacekeeping personnel, to witness the operation.
“Around 6 a.m., they entered the house of Lakay Cariño because they suspected that Senator Bato was there,” Ponce said in Filipino.
Suspicion Based on Vehicle Transfer
According to Ponce, authorities allegedly based their suspicion on reports that Dela Rosa may have transferred to Cariño’s pickup truck after leaving the Senate on the dawn of May 14.
Investigators, however, found neither Dela Rosa nor the pickup vehicle at the residence.
Ponce said Cariño had informed him last week that CIDG personnel had been making inquiries within the subdivision. Cariño, who serves as Ponce’s security consultant and is also president of the senior citizens group in Barangay Balibago, reportedly left for Manila days before the raid.
Peaceful Operation
Ponce said the situation remained peaceful during and after the operation.
Around 6:30 a.m., about 16 vehicles carrying CIDG, NBI, and PNP personnel were seen leaving the subdivision, he added.
“It was orderly and there was no commotion. It was still early and the residents of Diamond Residence Subdivision also helped,” Ponce said.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the operation or confirm whether the raid was connected to efforts to locate Dela Rosa, who is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
