Sotto says he wasn't aware Bato dela Rosa will be at Senate when NBI came

Senate Minority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Tuesday denied allegations he allowed the entry of nine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who attempted to arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa at the Senate.

"In the morning kahapon, a representative of NBI came to me and said they have warrant of arrest. Sabi ko coordinate withh OSAA, eh sino ba mag-aakalang darating siya?" Sotto told reporters.

(An NBI representative came to me Monday morning and told me that they have an arrest warrant. I told them to coordinate with the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Who would've known he would come here?)

"Alam ko may warrant sila pero I didn't know that Senator Dela Rosa is coming. So what kung may warrant sila? Malay ko ba na dadating siya," he added.

(I know they have an arrest warrant but I didn't know he is coming. So what if they have a warrant right? I didn't know he'll be here.)

Sotto, during the plenary session, made a manifestation to lay the issue to rest.

Cayetano read a formal letter from resigned Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rene Samonte detailing the incident that transpired in the chamber.

"Earlier this morning, NBI NCR Chief, Atty. DongaIa paid a call to the undersigned to coordinate an arrest order. As per agreement, the supposedly arrest should be effected when the warrant of arrest is presented as per guidance of the former Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III," the letter read.

"On or about 2 p.m., the warrant of arrest was shown to the former Senate President in the presence of the undersigned, but copies were not allowed to be distributed," it said.

Dela Rosa earlier said he felt "betrayed" over the incident.

"Hindi ako makikipagplastikan. I feel betrayed sa ginawa n'ya na 'yun. Nirerespeto ko siya kahit magkaibang kampo kami. Sa ginawa niyang 'yun, malungkot lang ako pero di ako galit," he said.

(I won't pretend. I feel betrayed over what happened. I respect him even if we're on different sides. I was sad about what happened but I am not mad.)

Asked if he would apologize, Sotto said: "Why? I didn't do anything wrong. Wala naman akong obstruction of justice, wala rin akong ginawang masama sa kanya."

( Why? I didn't do anything wrong. I did not obstruct justice or did him wrong.)

"How will I know that he is coming after months of absence to unseat a seating Senate president?"

Sotto added: "Kalokohan 'yun. Pinapasok nga ang CIDG in the morning. Andyan nag-issue ng subpoena. They are misinformed hayaan mo na mga ganyan di na pinapatulan".

(Their information was wrong. The OSAA allowed personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to serve a subpoena earlier in the day. They were misinformed.)

On Monday, Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate for the first time in six months after he went into hiding amid claims the ICC issued a warrant of arrest against him over his participation in the controversial war on drugs.

Dela Rosa , who voted to oust Sotto, was emotional on the floor saying that members of the NBI tried to block him from entering the Senate premises.

A CCTV footage showed the senator dashing towards the session hall to evade arrest from NBI agents, who were wearing civilian clothes.

Senators later voted to cite them in contempt and place them under the custody of the chamber. Following a meeting with Matibag, the agents were placed under NBI custody. —AOL, GMA News