Philippines NBI defends subpoena of senator Ronald Dela Rosa's wife amid ICC manhunt

The National Bureau of Investigation said it will subpoena Nancy Dela Rosa, wife of former police chief and senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, to verify statements that he escaped the Senate during a shooting incident, not to locate him. NBI Director Melvin Matibag emphasized the probe aims to determine whether the chaos was used as a diversion and to investigate the role of Senate sergeant‑at‑arms Mao Aplasca. Senator Ping Lacson denounced the move as “trabahong tamad,” urging the agency to drop the subpoena and instead increase its intelligence budget. He also called for stronger funding in the 2027 budget. The Department of Justice has likewise asked Dela Rosa’s lawyer to disclose any information about his whereabouts. Dela Rosa remains at large in the Philippines while a nationwide manhunt continues under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte‑era drug war.