Robin Padilla 'person of interest' in Bato dela Rosa's whereabouts —Matibag

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag on Friday said Senator Robin Padilla is considered a “person of interest” in the whereabouts of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Early Thursday morning, Dela Rosa sneaked out of the Senate building amid his possible arrest after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant in connection with the Duterte administration’s drug war.

“Automatic po 'yan pero sabi ko nga, kung meron pong unang-unang dapat tanungin, na-identify naman na si Senator Robin Padilla 'yung kasama,” Matibag said when asked if the NBI is already tracking Dela Rosa during an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.

(It’s automatic, but I said, if there’s anyone who needs to be questioned first, Senator Robin Padilla has already been identified as the last person with Dela Rosa.)

“Siya po 'yung pinaka-person of interest to shed light sa whereabouts po ni Senator Bato,” he added.

(He is the person of interest to shed light on Senator Bato’s whereabouts.)

Matibag noted that the NBI is following instructions from the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the matter.

“In the proper time gagawin po natin 'yan. Malinaw naman po 'yung sinasabi namin lagi na we are following instructions from the higher-ups, sa DOJ po 'yung pinaka-main coordination dito so doon po tayo,” he said.

(We will do that at the proper time. It is clear that we always say that we are following instructions from the higher-ups, the DOJ is the main coordination here.)

Asked about Dela Rosa’s whereabouts, Matibag said the question should be directed to Padilla, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, as well as Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and retired Police Major General Mao Aplasca.

“After noong commotion diyan sa Senate, 'yung putukan, ang kasunod, nawala na po siya. Kung maalala ninyo po, 'yan na nga 'yung binabanggit ko na sentimyento ng aming mga ahente na maaaring ang naging dahilan noong paputukan na 'yan ay para ma-divert at makaalis si Senator Bato,” Matibag said.

(After the commotion in the Senate, the gunshots, he was gone. If you remember, that's what I was talking about, the sentiment of our agents that the reason for that gunshot was diversion and to get Senator Bato out.)

“At 'yan naman ay kinumpirma ng kaniyang maybahay na sabi si Senator Bato took advantage noong situation na nagkaputukan para makaalis po ng Senado,” he added.

(And that was confirmed by his spouse who said Senator Bato took advantage of the situation when the gunshots happened to get him out of the Senate.)

Gunshots rang out at the Senate Wednesday evening amid lockdown at the upper chamber, where Dela Rosa was under protective custody. Hours later, the senator left the Senate compound.

GMA News Online reached out to the camps of Padilla, Cayetano, and Aplasca for comment and will publish it once available.—AOL, GMA News