NBI to subpoena Bato dela Rosa's wife

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will issue a subpoena to Nancy Dela Rosa, the wife of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, and other individuals who were last with him before he left the protective custody of the Senate.

In a press briefing, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said, "'Yung mga huling nakasama niya, we will issue a subpoena. Of course, we're contemplating on issuing a subpoena to his wife also."

(We will issue a subpoena to the people who were last with him. Of course, we're also contemplating issuing a subpoena to his wife.)

"Kasi may statement 'yung wife sa online news 'no that what happened on May 13, 'yun 'yung ginamit na opportunity ni Senator Bato to escape the arrest," he added.

(Because the wife made a statement, according to online news reports, that what happened on May 13 was the opportunity Senator Bato used to escape the arrest.)

Asked when the subpoena will be issued, Matibag said the bureau was "preparing it today."

This comes as Philippine authorities are seeking to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Dela Rosa.

The senator's spouse has also appealed to the judiciary to not allow her husband to be brought to The Hague.

Dela Rosa is the subject of an arrest warrant for "alleged criminal responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator" in the crimes against humanity of murder from July 3, 2016, until the end of April 2018, wherein at least 32 persons died.

According to Matibag, the senator is still a fugitive from justice.

"And we're still doing our best to locate him and to effect the arrest," he said.

Hours after the May 13 shooting incident in the Senate, Dela Rosa was said to be seen leaving the legislative chamber's premises with Senator Robin Padilla.

Padilla has denied helping Dela Rosa escape, saying the latter only asked to hitch a ride with him out of the Senate.

Joint operatives from the police and NBI previously launched simultaneous operations in four locations to serve the arrest warrant against Dela Rosa. — VDV, GMA News