Robin Padilla says gov't has right to probe him over Bato dela Rosa's 'escape' from Senate

Senator Robin Padilla on Monday said the government has the right to investigate him for obstruction of justice for supposedly helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate premises amid the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him.

“Karapatan ng gobyerno ‘yan. Wala tayong mako-komento diyan. Kaso na daw ‘yan eh. Antayin natin,” Padilla said in an ambush interview when sought for comment on the probe against him for obstruction of justice.

(That is the government’s prerogative. We have no comment on that. They say it is already a case. Let us wait.)

In May, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the Department of Justice is looking into the possible culpability of Padilla, who maintained that he did not help Dela Rosa escape as the former PNP chief turned lawmaker only asked to hitch a ride with him out of the Senate building on May 14.

Oposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas and rights groups also previously filed an obstruction of justice complaint against Padilla and others with the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate.

Padilla said he has yet to receive an invitation or subpoena but added that he will cooperate.

“Syempre susunod tayo sa batas. Ako naman ay proven na sumusunod sa batas,” he said.

(Of course, we will follow the law. As for me, I have proven that I follow the law.)

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.

Authorities attempted to serve the warrant against him on May 11, leading to a chase inside the Senate building. He was later placed under protective custody by the upper chamber before he left the Senate premises on May 14. — RSJ, GMA News