DOJ Summons Robin Padilla, 6 Others Over Bato Dela Rosa Escape

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena against Sen. Robin Padilla and six others over complaints of obstruction of justice. According to the summons, Padilla is required to appear before the DOJ on September 25 and October 9. The summons were served on the lawmaker and co-accused Lt. Col. Jean Alla Yasin Robles on Tuesday afternoon, according to DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez. The complaints are over his alleged assistance in the escape of Sen. Bato Dela Rosa on May 14, following the shooting incident at the Senate. It could be recalled that Dela Rosa hitched a ride in Padilla’s SUV on May 14 before disappearing from law enforcement’s radar. Padilla also admitted that he gave Dela Rosa a ride to help him escape. The DOJ complaint was filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on May 28. A separate complaint of obstruction of justice was also filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against Padilla. The obstruction complaint against Padilla at the Ombudsman was filed by civic group Tindig Pilipinas on July 4. In a Facebook post, Padilla said: "A subpoena has arrived." Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, is currently at large due to alleged crimes against humanity. This development highlights potential tensions between domestic political maneuvering and international judicial processes in the Philippines. Dela Rosa's situation is linked to allegations of human rights abuses during the previous administration's war on drugs, which is under investigation by the ICC.