Robin Padilla: 'No escape' occurred in Bato dela Rosa case, welcomes DOJ subpoena

Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday maintained that no escape occurred in the case of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, and welcomed the subpoena issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) amid allegations he helped his colleague evade arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC). "First, I was pleased. When my chief legislative officer told me... I was pleased because we know that these allegations being thrown at us come from foreigners. I am happy when it comes from foreigners because it feels like my spirit as a Katipunero is being brought to life. I was not saddened, I was not downhearted," Padilla said in a press briefing. The PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed a complaint against Padilla and others in May for allegedly helping Dela Rosa escape. 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, where at least 32 persons died. Authorities tried to serve the warrant on Dela Rosa on May 11, leading to a chase inside the Senate building. He was later placed under protective custody by the Senate but slipped out of the chamber's premises on May 14. He has not appeared in public since. Meanwhile, Padilla is facing an obstruction of justice complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman. "No escape occurred. You've watched the CCTV footage anyway. Come on. Is there anyone who escapes like that? He simply got into my vehicle and hitched a ride. The CCTV will not lie. Let's just watch the CCTV to see if an escape actually took place," said Padilla. Padilla said that he is ready to appear before the panel of prosecutors and to submit his counter-affidavit on September 25 and October 9. "Yes, of course. Even though their advice was not to [appear]. But of course, that is out of respect for our ruling officials," he added. Information Source: GMA News Philippines