Pia Cayetano denies Bato dela Rosa rode her vehicle in Senate return

Senator Pia Cayetano on Wednesday categorically denied Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa rode her vehicle when he appeared at the Senate last Monday.

During the Plenary session, Cayetano rejected Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson's earlier remarks, saying dela Rosa alighted her vehicle when he arrived at the Senate following his six-month absence.

"Let me state this clearly and unequivocally: that statement is false," Cayetano said.

"Senator Dela Rosa did not ride in my vehicle, nor did I have anything to do with facilitating his presence in the Senate last Monday," he said.

Cayetano also said she was unaware that dela Rosa would be arriving and that she was surprised with the development.

"Magulo na nga ang mundo, magulo na ang Pilipinas. Huwag na nating dagdagan. Don't say things about your colleagues that are not true," she added.

(The world and the country is in chaos. Let us not add to that. Don't say things about your colleagues that are not true.)

Lacson apologized to Cayetano over the incident.

"I sincerely apologize to Senator Pia Cayetano. That information was relayed to me by a fairly-reliable source and if that was a mistake then I sincerely apologize," he said.

"I made that public statement because I thought it was just a you know, not really a serious matter. Maski kanino pa sya nakasakay na sasakyan, sa tingin ko walang issue. Kaya parang naisip ko okay lang na mai-share ko ang information that I received...If it is false, even if it is not false, I sincerely apologize," he said.

(There's no issue for us if he rides with whoever, that's why I thought it was okay to share the information… If it is false, even if it is not false, I sincerely apologize.)

Cayetano accepted his apology.

Meanwhile, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano clarified dela Rosa rode his vehicle last Monday, saying: "For the record, sa kotse ko sumakay si Sen. Bato (Sen. Bato rode in my vehicle)".

Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate for the first time after disappearing from public eye for six months amid claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest against him. His attendance completed the 13 votes to oust then-Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and installed Alan Peter Cayetano.

Senator Loren Legarda was named Senate President Pro-Tempore.

An emotional Dela Rosa arrived at the session hall, showing injured fingers. He said he "wrestled" with the agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who allegedly tried to prevent him from entering the Senate.

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

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, two female agents were about to serve Dela Rosa the ICC warrant. He also denied the senator was tackled.

Dela Rosa, who is under Senate protective custody, currently remains in the chamber. He said he would remain in Senate premises while waiting for the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of the ICC warrant of arrest.

On Tuesday, five senators filed a resolution asking him to voluntarily surrender to authorities amid an ICC arrest warrant against him over his links to the controversial drug war. Dela Rosa rejected the call. —RF, GMA News