![MNLF Says It “Is Not [Coddling] Senator Bato”— but Accidentally Spells It as “Cuddling”](https://peanutgallerynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/article-image-30.png)
An official statement from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has caught online attention over a wording blunder, after the faction led by Muslimin Sema said it was not “cuddling” Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa when it apparently meant “coddling.”
In its Oct. 30 statement, the group used the headline “The MNLF is not cuddling Senator Bato.” While “cuddling” means holding someone affectionately, “coddling” refers to treating someone with excessive care or protection.
Apart from the typo, the Sema faction strongly denied allegations that it was sheltering Dela Rosa.
“The claim that the MNLF may be protecting him is speculation, not a confirmed fact,” the group stated.
The denial came after Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla claimed on Oct. 20 that Dela Rosa was hiding in Mindanao under the protection of a powerful armed group, without naming the organization.
On Oct. 30, Philippine National Police Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Wilson Lopez said authorities had not yet identified any specific group allegedly protecting the senator, even as the 7-day deadline for his surrender had passed.
The Sema faction recognized the possibility of Dela Rosa having links to MNLF figures through former President Rody Duterte’s friendship with the group’s founder, Nur Misuari.
However, it emphasized that there was no verified evidence showing that Dela Rosa was an MNLF member, an operational ally, or under the group’s protection. It also noted the uncertainty surrounding Misuari’s separate faction.
Meanwhile, officials of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) dismissed social media posts linking senior figure Abdullah Macapaar to claims that he was sheltering Dela Rosa.
The senator has remained out of public view since May 14. He is facing an arrest order from the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, a move that has drawn opposition from those questioning the authority of a foreign court to issue a warrant against a Filipino citizen without one coming from a Philippine court.
The government is offering a ₱50-million reward for information that could lead to his arrest.
![MNLF Says It “Is Not [Coddling] Senator Bato”— but Accidentally Spells It as “Cuddling”](https://peanutgallerynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/article-image-30-120x86.png)
