Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano stated on Monday that the agency’s official records do not yet show that Senator Robin Padilla has submitted his counter-affidavit.
Clavano issued the clarification after Padilla presented documents during the seventh day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, claiming he had followed the Ombudsman’s orders.
“Buti naman po at meron siyang pinakita … Bagama’t hindi siya nagre-reflect sa aming sistema,” Clavano said during a press briefing.
The assistant ombudsman noted that the period allocated for the lawmaker to submit his formal reply had already expired.
“And the time to file a counter-affidavit had already lapsed,” Clavano said.
“So we will rely on what our system says and we will take it from there,” he added.
Clavano also revealed that Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is currently the sole senator whose response has been successfully logged into the agency’s records as of Monday.
“So as of right now, only Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s counter-affidavit reflects in our system,” Clavano told reporters.
Earlier that day, Padilla showcased his purported counter-affidavit at the impeachment tribunal to challenge prior statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
Remulla previously indicated that the actor-turned-politician had not answered the obstruction of justice complaint filed against him.
The legal issue stems from the suspected flight of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who allegedly hid after the International Criminal Court confirmed an arrest warrant for his suspected involvement as a co-perpetrator in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.