Marcos appeared disappointed over Bato dela Rosa's 'escape,' says Castro

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. seemed disappointed over the recent developments in the Senate, including Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa being able to “escape” despite under the chamber's protective custody, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said Monday.

At a Palace briefing, Castro said the President’s frustration was evident when he called his Cabinet members for a meeting a day after the shooting incident at the Senate.

“Sa huling pangyayari patungkol doon sa diumano na pagtakas at pagkawala kahit na may protective custody ang Senado, nakakadismaya naman talaga,” she said.

(The latest incident involving Sen. Dela Rosa’s alleged escape and disappearance even though he is under the Senate’s protective custody is really disappointing.)

“Noong nagkaroon po ng meeting, inalam niya kung anong pangyayari at makikita mo sa itsura ng Pangulo at kung papaano siya magtanong sa mga Cabinet secretaries, nandoon po ‘yung disappointment—-hindi sa Cabinet secretaries kung hindi sa pangyayari sa Senado,” she added.

(When the meeting was held, the President asked about what happened and you can see from his face and how he was asking the Cabinet secretaries, that he is disappointed—not in the Cabinet secretaries but of what’s happening in the Senate.)

Asked about the Palace’s view of the personalities like Senator Robin Padilla allegedly helping Dela Rosa to leave the Senate premises, Castro said that there will be an investigation on the matter.

Nevertheless, the Palace Press Office questioned why Padilla is seemingly protecting Dela Rosa despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) already issuing an arrest warrant against the latter over his role in the war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

“Nakita po rin natin ang mga namutawi sa bibig ni Senator Robin Padilla at the time na siya pa ay isang ordinaryong citizen na kapag sinabi niya, na kapag may nagsisilbing warrant of arrest ay dapat na sumuko,” Castro said.

(We saw Senator Robin Padilla saying, when he was still an ordinary citizen, that when someone has an arrest warrant, he or she should surrender.)

“Pero bakit hindi natin nadidinig mismo kay Senator Robin Padilla ang ganoong mga salita patungkol sa kaniyang kaalyado na si Senator Bato dela Rosa? Mayroon bang ibang pagtingin, mayroon bang tinititigan at mayroong tinitingnan lamang?”

(But why don't we hear these words from Senator Robin Padilla about the case of his ally, Senator Bato dela Rosa? Does he have a different view now?)

She also called on the public to be critical of the actions of public servants.

“Kung sino ang dapat na managot dito, kung mayroong mga pagkukulang at may lumabag sa batas, mayroong nagtatakas or nagpapatakas ay dapat lang din po tayong mga Pilipino ay maging mapanuri sa mga nagiging aksiyon ng ating mga public servants,” Castro said.

(If there is someone who should be held accountable for this, if there are shortcomings and someone has violated the law, someone is fleeing or trying to flee, we Filipinos should also be critical of the actions of our public servants.) — RSJ, GMA News