Robin Padilla Ignores Ombudsman Summons Amid Obstruction of Justice Complaint

Senator Robin Padilla has ignored the summons of the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the complaint filed against him and others for obstruction of justice over the departure of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate premises despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Friday. “Well, he has not filed anything. He has not responded. He has not said anything about the case, the summons given to him,” Remulla said in a press briefing. “The deadline has passed. I don’t know. If he chooses to ignore the Ombudsman, then so be it,” he added. GMA News Online has reached out to Padilla for comment and will publish his response once available. To recall, the complaint was filed by Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor, Francis Aquino Dee and allied groups, including Partido Manggagawa, Baigani Feminist Collective, Magdalo Party, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, Youth Resist, among others. In June, the Ombudsman directed Padilla, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca to answer the complaint. According to Remulla, Cayetano filed his counter-affidavit on time. Meanwhile, he said the Ombudsman granted Aplasca’s request for an extension in the filing of his counter-affidavit. “Si Mr. Aplasca asked for an extension so we granted him an extension,” he said. To recall, National Bureau of Investigation agents attempted to serve the ICC warrant against Dela Rosa on May 11, leading to a chase inside the Senate building. He was later placed under protective custody by the upper chamber when Cayetano was elected Senate President. On May 13, gunshots rang out while the building was placed on lockdown. Aplasca fired several warning shots at the Senate's glass windows, causing panic among those who were still within the Senate premises at that time. Cayetano, however, described the incident as the Senate being “under attack.” A few hours after the incident, on May 14, Dela Rosa slipped out of the Senate after “hitching” a ride with Padilla. — RSJ, GMA News