Senator Robin Padilla has ignored a directive from the Office of the Ombudsman to answer an obstruction of justice complaint, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla revealed on Friday.
During a media briefing, Remulla stated that the lawmaker has not presented any official response to the accusations regardless of being served a summons.
“Well, he has not filed anything. He has not responded. He has not said anything about the cases that the summons given to him,” Remulla said in a press briefing.
The Ombudsman chief noted that the window for Padilla to submit his written defense has already expired without any submission from the senator’s office.
“He chooses to ignore the Ombudsman, then so be it,” he added.
Initiated by the civic group Tindig Pilipinas, the legal complaint stems from the escape of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa following a shooting incident on May 13.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca are also named as respondents in the case.
Dela Rosa currently faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for his involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly war on drugs, which claimed the lives of numerous suspects, predominantly from marginalized sectors.
In contrast to Padilla’s silence, Cayetano submitted his counter-affidavit on time, while Aplasca requested a grace period and was given until July 23 to submit his response.
“The resolution will be done without his counter-affidavit,” Remulla said regarding Padilla’s choice.
Remulla clarified that by failing to reply, the senator has forfeited his opportunity to clear his name before the anti-graft body.
Padilla’s current silence stands in stark contrast to his aggressive stance earlier in the week during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
On Tuesday, the actor-turned-politician aggressively questioned National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, demanding that the witness answer the complaints filed against him.