ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima Reacts To Sen. Robin Padilla’s Defense of Sen. Bato dela Rosa
LEILA DE LIMA – The Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Representative slammed Senator Robin Padilla for comparing her with Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
Previously, Sen. Bato dela Rosa suddenly appeared in the Senate after his no show of around six months in the chamber after Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against him. He came in time for the voting for the Senate presidency.
Then-Senate Pres. Tito Sotto was ousted and replaced with now-SP Alan Peter Cayetano. Sen. Bato dela Rosa cried foul that the authorities of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as well as former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV were reportedly there to arrest him.
Furthermore, he also slammed the questions why he decided to appear in the chamber citing that when he was absent the people are looking for him. With 13 votes, the Senate positions were declared vacant and Cayetano was elected in the Senate presidency.
Shortly after Sotto was ousted, a controversial incident of gunfire being held in the Senate’s second floor took place. However, it ended with Sen. Bato dela Rosa being able to exit from the premises of the chamber. Sen. Robin Padilla admitted that he was the one who was with Dela Rosa then when they left the Senate.
Sen. Robin Padilla continued to defend Sen. Bato dela Rosa amid his absence in the Senate. He is even proposing for the chamber to allow Dela Rosa to participate in the Senate sessions online citing that the former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief allegedly does not want to be absent from work.
Sen. Robin Padilla also compared ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima and Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s cases. De Lima, a former Senator, also faced an arrest warrant during her term as lawmaker.
“The case of Senator Bato differs from that of De Lima. One was allegedly connected to drug lords, and the other is allegedly connected to neutralizing drug lords,” Sen. Padilla said based on PhilStar.
Sen. Leila de Lima was detained under the custody of the PNP for more than six years. The charges against her were dismissed and the people who testified against the former Senator recanted their testimonies.
Following the remarks of Sen. Robin Padilla, ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima slammed the actor-turned-Senator. Based on the post, she stressed that she has been acquitted from the charges that were “made up” against her.
“Excuse me, Sen. Robin. Huwag niyo nga akong gamitin sa baluktot niyong naratibo. Acquitted na ako sa hinarap kong mga gawa-gawang kaso. Napakalayo ng sitwasyon ko sa pinasakay mong fugitive from justice na si Sen. Bato. Saka neutralizing drug lords talaga?… Ipaliwanag niya ‘yan sa ICC,” De Lima said
Previously, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said they are eyeing the wife of Sen. Bato dela Rosa amid the manhunt for the Senator. The Department of Justice (DOJ) declared Dela Rosa as a fugitive and ordered his arrest.