Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa holds two 5.66 mm Squad Automatic Weapons during the opening of the 2016 Defense and Sporting Arms Show at the SM MegaTrade Hall in Mandaluyong City on July 14, 2016.The STAR / Boy Santos

'Not a right': DOJ chief Vida says Bato’s gun 'privileges' should be revoked

26 May 2026, 08:09 by Ian Laqui · philstar

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police should have already revoked Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa’s firearms licenses after an arrest warrant was issued against him, Justice Secretary Frederrick Vida said Tuesday, May 26.

At a press briefing, Vida said gun ownership is not an entitlement, and that the government should not allow its enforcement options to be limited.

“I expect that the PNP should have done that yesterday, and I’ll give a call to the PNP,” Vida said.

“Basically, there’s an arrest warrant, and having a license to gun ownership is not a right but a privilege. Anytime, the republic should not have its tools and mechanisms limited,” he added.

Vida said he would speak directly with PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. to ensure the immediate cancellation of Dela Rosa’s gun licenses and the confiscation of his firearms.

“I’ll talk to General Nartatez about that. And I expect that it should be revoked as soon as possible,” he said.

Dela Rosa is reported to have 118 gun licenses.

NBI asks PNP to cancel licenses

The National Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile, has formally asked the PNP to immediately cancel Dela Rosa’s firearms license.

In a letter addressed to Nartatez and signed by NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the bureau also asked the PNP to order Dela Rosa to surrender the registered firearms to the nearest PNP unit or the NBI within 48 hours from notice, or upon apprehension.

The NBI said Dela Rosa’s registered firearms include semi-automatic and select-fire rifles, UZI submachine gun variants, high-powered .338-caliber rifles, battlefield-grade shotguns and a broad array of handguns.

Dela Rosa slipped out of the Senate premises on May 14, following the gunfire incident on May 13.

Dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity of murder over the killings of at least 32 people allegedly committed between July 2016 and April 2018 under then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.