Bato Dela Rosa didn't escape; he chose to leave, says Alan Peter Cayetano

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa did not "escape" from the Senate, saying that no local arrest warrant has been issued against him.

Cayetano made the remarks as he confirmed dela Rosa has already left the Senate despite being under its protective custody.

"Mali 'yung word na escape because there's no warrant eh...‘Di ba, there's no warrant. So, he's free to go," Cayetano told reporters.

(The term escape was wrong because there's no warrant against him. He's free to go.)

Cayetano said Senator Jinggoy Estrada first informed him of dela Rosa's absence at around 1:27 p.m. This prompted him to check with the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), who provided him with a spot report.

Cayetano also received a message from dela Rosa's wife, saying her husband "took the opportunity [to escape] when chaos ensued, and shots were fired". She also hoped the 13 majority senators "will stick together".

"He did not escape...he chose to leave...When you escape, you are under arrest, under detention," said Cayetano.

"Everyone, including his wife, used the word escape but actually, he did not escape. I mean in the technical legal sense. If you're talking in the colloquial sense, na hawak kita, escape, then correct naman yan," he said.

The senator added: "That's why I admit even his wife used that. But it's not in legal parlance, hindi escape, umalis siya or he left. So no one has to take responsibility for that".

A senator, who wished to remain anonymous, earlier said dela Rosa was no longer in the Senate. The lawmaker said this was confirmed by a member of the Senate secretariat, who said that Dela Rosa left the Senate premises early Thursday morning at around 2:30 a.m.

“As of 11:09 a.m., several sources confirmed that the senator, Senator Bato, is no longer in the Senate premises, but we’re still getting official confirmation on the report,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press conference.

Dela Rosa was last seen with his staff as they boarded an elevator on Wednesday. He came from the office of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

In a photo released by the Senate majority, Dela Rosa, as well as Senators Robin Padilla and Rodante Marcoleta, were not seen in the caucus following the adjournment of the session.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also said Dela Rosa is “safe” and with security personnel following the tension and lockdown at the Senate building.

On Facebook, lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of Dela Rosa, posted photos with him in the Senate at around 12:45 a.m.

As of 11:40 a.m., Torreon and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc, who were seen at the Senate, refused to answer questions on dela Rosa's whereabouts, citing client confidentiality.

Shooting incident

On Wednesday evening, gunshots rang out at the Senate amid a lockdown in the upper chamber.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has denied that its agents are deployed at the Senate building. It also said its officials are currently in a three-day fellowship event in a hotel.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. said that there was no instruction to arrest Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa is a subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in relation to crimes against humanity involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He was placed under the protective custody of the Senate after agents of the National Bureau of Investigation tried to serve him the arrest warrant. –NB, GMA News