Senator Robin Padilla said Wednesday, September 16, that he will personally appear before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to respond to an obstruction of justice complaint stemming from Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate in May.
The DOJ has subpoenaed Padilla in connection with the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), which accused him and others of helping Dela Rosa leave the Senate premises while an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant was pending against him.
Padilla has been ordered to appear before prosecutors and submit his counter-affidavit on September 25 and October 9.
Padilla has maintained that he did not help Dela Rosa evade law enforcement. He acknowledged that Dela Rosa rode in his vehicle when the senator left the Senate compound early on May 14, but disputed the characterization that an escape took place.
“OA (overacting) naman, walang pagtakas na naganap. Napanood naman natin lahat,” Padilla said.
He also pointed to security footage as support for his account.
“Mayroon bang ganoong tumakas? Dalawang libong pulis ang nandito? Siya po ay sumakay lang sa aking sasakyan… hindi naman po magsisinungaling ang CCTV,” he told reporters.
Padilla added:
“Wala naman pong humarang sa amin na pulis kasi kung may humarang naman, bakit naman kami aalis?”
The complaint arose from Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate on May 14, following days when he had remained inside the legislative complex after authorities attempted to serve an ICC arrest warrant.
Dela Rosa had returned to the Senate in May after months of remaining out of public view following reports that the ICC had issued a warrant against him over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. He later stayed inside his Senate office after the chamber asserted that the warrant could not be served against a sitting senator within the legislative premises.
Following a shooting incident at the Senate, Dela Rosa was seen boarding Padilla’s vehicle as he left the compound in the early hours of May 14.
The PNP-CIDG filed its obstruction complaint against Padilla and several others on May 28. The DOJ subsequently proceeded with a formal preliminary investigation after evaluating the complaint.
Padilla is also facing a separate obstruction of justice complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman over Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate.
The senator’s DOJ appearance will allow him to formally respond to the allegations and submit evidence supporting his position that he did not assist Dela Rosa in evading arrest.