Matibag: We caught ‘Bakal,’ not ‘Bato’ in Davao City raid

DAVAO CITY—National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag dismissed social media rumors regarding the potential arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, clarifying the purpose of law enforcement operations in the city on Friday.

Although traveling from Manila to Davao City on Friday, Matibag explained to reporters that his trip was actually linked to a raid conducted at the Davao Mighty Steel Corp. manufacturing plant located in Barangay Ilang, Bunawan district.

“Nandito kami sa Davao, ang nahuli naman hindi bato (kundi) bakal,” Matibag joked.

(We are here in Davao; what we caught was not Bato but steel)

Operatives from the NBI and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, led by Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda, with assistance from Coast Guard units, Air Force and Army soldiers, executed a search warrant at the Bunawan steel plant following allegations that it had been producing substandard rebars.

READ: Matibag: Manhunt for Bato dela Rosa still underway

Matibag’s trip here raised speculations that an arrest operation against dela Rosa is afoot, a few weeks after a similar buzz circulated.

Dela Rosa has been in hiding to avoid arrest on account of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court to answer charges of crimes against humanity.

But Matibag told a press conference here that they are confident they will soon catch Dela Rosa./coa

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