PNP open to NBI probe on possible cop behind fake tip on Dela Rosa

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was open to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) looking into the angle that a police officer was behind the tipster who provided the wrong information on the location of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

“On the part of the PNP, we welcome that kind of investigation because a police officer allegedly used that person; at least, we can determine who he was,” PNP operations director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said in an interview on DZMM on Tuesday night.

“We’re open to all kinds of investigations,” he noted.

READ: NBI probes angle cop behind fake tip on Bato dela Rosa’s whereabouts

Last Friday, the NBI said it had arrested a man who allegedly tried to scam its director, Melvin Matibag, by claiming he had information on Dela Rosa’s location in exchange for cash.

READ: Bato dela Rosa search operations had warrant – CIDG

The suspect, however, maintained that he was only exploited by a police officer in the scheme.

Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged participation in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, which killed up to 30,000 people, according to human rights groups.

Both the PNP and the NBI were ordered by the Department of Justice to implement the ICC warrant to arrest Dela Rosa last May 21. /cb