THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Sunday that there is no official record indicating Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has departed the Philippines via any international entry or exit point, even as authorities continue their search for him.
BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval, in an interview over Super Radyo dzBB, clarified that based on their monitoring systems, the senator has not been documented traveling out of the country recently. “That is correct. At our international ports of entry and exit, we have no record of any recent travel made by Senator Dela Rosa,” she stated.
Sandoval explained that the agency’s jurisdiction and monitoring scope cover only official international gateways. These include all international airports across the country as well as designated seaports such as the Zamboanga International Seaport, where passenger manifests and departure logs are strictly recorded and verified. Under standard procedures, any individual leaving or entering the country through these points must undergo immigration clearance, which leaves a permanent record in the bureau’s database.
However, she also pointed out key limitations in their coverage, noting that coastal areas, unregulated waterways, and smaller sea routes fall outside the BI’s mandate. “Our scope does not include bay areas or unofficial crossings. These areas are monitored and secured by local government units, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the police force,” Sandoval said, emphasizing that monitoring those points is the responsibility of other law enforcement and maritime agencies.
The clarification comes amid intensified efforts to locate the senator, who has not appeared in public since mid‑May. While the BI maintains there is no evidence he left through legal channels, authorities have not ruled out other possibilities. Currently, only a lookout bulletin is in effect against Dela Rosa, as no formal hold departure order has yet been issued by a competent court.
