Ombudsman Speaks on Sen. Robin Padilla amid Complaint over Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s “Escape”
ROBIN PADILLA – Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the Senator allegedly ignored the order to file a counter affidavit on the obstruction of justice complaint against him.
The exit of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from the Senate premises earned the chamber a lot of criticisms. Then, the Senate was led by now-Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano who announced that they were allegedly attacked prior to Dela Rosa’s exit.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa was out from the public’s sight for six (6) months prior to his return to the Senate in June. Since Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has already released the arrest warrant against him, he never attended the Senate session since then.
Dela Rosa is one of the alleged co-perpetrators of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the previous administration’s war against drugs. The former Chief Executive is now detained in The Hague, Netherlands after the ICC issued an arrest warrant against him.
Following the exit of the “ICC wanted” Senator, Sen. Robin Padilla admitted that he was with Sen. Bato dela Rosa when they left the Senate but denied that he helped him “escape”. He claimed that they were only walking out of the chamber.
“Pilipinas ito bakit ang isang halal na senador ay kakasuhan dahil sa warrant of arrest ng dayuhan… Naglakad lang kami at sumakay sa sasakyan sa harap ng mahigit na isang libo na pulis,” Padilla said.
Sen. Robin Padilla also admitted that he will not disclose the whereabouts of Sen. Bato dela Rosa even if he knows where the Senator is. The Department of Justice has tagged him as a “fugitive” from the law citing that the ICC arrest warrant is “valid”.
A complaint of alleged obstruction of justice was filed against Sen. Robin Padilla before the Office of the Ombudsman. The grandson of the late former Senator Ninoy Aquino Jr., Kiko Aquino-Dee, made the filing.
Recently, based on News5, Ombudsman Boying Remulla claimed that Sen. Robin Padilla allegedly ignored the order of his office to file a counter-affidavit on the obstruction of justice complaint filed against him.
The other accused in the complaint were Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano who was the Senate president then when Sen. Bato dela Rosa exited from the chamber’s custody. Then-Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca is also facing the same complaint.
Based on the report, Aplasca sought an extension from the Ombudsman on the filing of his counter-affidavit. As for Cayetano, the Senate Minority Leader has already filed his counter-affidavit.
Previously, Senate minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano called out Kiko Dee, the grandson of the late former Sen. Ninoy Aquino, as he mentioned the Marcos Jr. administration.