Robin Padilla denies snubbing Ombudsman summons; Tulfo says impeachment court not proper forum

Senator-Judge Robin Padilla, at the start of the impeachment trial on Monday, took the floor to deny that he snubbed the summons of the Ombudsman in the obstruction of justice case against him.

The manifestation drew a response from Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo, who said the court and the trial were not the venue and time for senators to air their explanations regarding allegations against them.

“Itong nakaraang linggo, lumabas po sa mga balita na may alegasyon na ako daw po ay hindi sumusunod sa batas. Ito ay nakalulungkot sa isang senador, sa isang senator-judge ang masabihan na hindi sumusunod sa batas,” Padilla said.

(Last week, news reports surfaced alleging that I was not complying with the law. It is disheartening for a senator, for a senator-judge, to be accused of not following the law.”

“Nakalulungkot po na pati ang media ay nakikisama sa ganitong klaseng propaganda, na ang isang senador ay hindi sumusunod sa batas, isang senator-judge,” he added.

(It is saddening that even the media is participating in this kind of propaganda, that a senator, a senator-judge, does not follow the law.)

Padilla said he has already filed his counter-affidavit before the Ombudsman.

“Inaamin ko po sa inyo, kung ICC lang, hindi po talaga ako susunod. Hindi ako magpapasakop sa ICC. Pero dahil ginagalang ko po ang Ombudsman dahil siya po ay aking kaibigan na itinuturing…nag-file po kami,” he said.

(I admit to you, if it were just the ICC, I would not really comply. I would not submit to the ICC. But because I respect the Ombudsman, because I consider him as my friend, I filed a counter-affidavit.)

GMA News sought Padilla's comment after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the senator ignored the Ombudsman's summons in connection with the complaint.

Padilla is facing an obstruction of justice complaint in connection with the departure of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa from the Senate premises in May.

Padilla's manifestation did not sit well with Tulfo, who said that the impeachment court is not the right forum or place to air explanations about the senator-judges’ personal issues.

“This court was established, was created…for the Vice President and Vice President only. This should be her time, this should be her forum. Not our forum here na ilabas natin ang saloobin natin, mga sagot natin sa mga akusasyon, mga kaso laban sa atin,” Tulfo said.

(This is not our forum where we could air our sentiments or respond to the accusations and cases filed against us.)

“This is also not the time, Mr. President, Mr. Presiding Officer, na hanapin ‘yung mga kasama nating nawawala, nakakulong. Dapat po doon sa Senado natin, sa sesyon natin and not in this court,” he continued.

(This is also not the time, Mr. President, Mr. Presiding Officer, to look for our colleagues who are missing and are imprisoned. Bring these issues instead to the Senate during our session and not in this court.)

Tulfo said the manifestations regarding senators defending themselves already happened last week.

Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano then cited former senator Joker Arroyo, saying that it is useless to argue a legal point with non-lawyers.

“Ang legal principle natin today is simple—integrity ng court. So allow me to mention that to the people and help educate my colleague here. The integrity of the court and the justices or judges is always relevant,” Cayetano said.

“So if the Supreme Court or Comelec, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan is being heard, and the judges are being threatened, you give them time. So we cannot take the impeachment out of context,” he added.

To recall, during last week’s trial, Cayetano and Padilla spoke at the impeachment court regarding the statement by National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag that he would investigate alleged anomalies in the bidding and funding of projects for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Cayetano, who served as chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) for the 2019 SEA Games, has repeatedly denied the irregularities alleged in the building of the sports facilities, which he described as world-class.

Senator-Judge Vicente "Tito" Sotto III moved that the manifestations be referred to the Senate proper.

“I do not have four years of law, but I have 29 years of lawmaking,” Sotto said.

But Escudero ruled that Padilla’s manifestation shall remain in the records.

“I ask the indulgence of the parties to this case—wala po kasi kaming sesyon, ito lang ang pagkakataon na nakakapagsalita at nagkikita-kita kami habang recess kami. Pero umaasa ako na kapag nag-resume na ang Senado sa susunod na linggo matapos ang SONA ng Pangulo, may pagkakataon na ang bawat miyembro ng Senado, bilang senador, hindi bilang senator-judge, na mailabas ‘yung mga hinaing o ano mang nais nilang sabihin,” Escudero said.

(I ask for the indulgence of the parties to this case—we do not have a session right now. This is the only opportunity for us to speak and meet while we are in recess. However, I am hopeful that once the Senate resumes session next week following the President’s SONA, every senator will have the opportunity to voice their grievances or express whatever they wish to say.)

‘Already lapsed’

At a press briefing on Monday, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano acknowledged Padilla’s reported filing of a counter-affidavit, but noted that the time for its submission had already lapsed.

“Buti naman po at meron siyang pinakita ‘no na isang counter-affidavit, original pa po raw ang pinakita niya. Bagamat hindi ho siya nagre-reflect sa aming sistema and the time to file a counter-affidavit had already lapsed, so we will rely on what our system says and we will take it from there,” Clavano said.

(It is good that he showed a counter-affidavit—he even claimed it was the original copy. However, it does not reflect in our system, and the time to file a counter-affidavit had already lapsed, so we will rely on what our system says, and we will take it from there.)

The Assistant Ombudsman clarified that as of Monday, Cayetano’s counter-affidavit was the only filing reflected in their office’s system. –with a report from Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB/BM/RF, GMA News