Sen. Robin Padilla appeared before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday for the preliminary investigation into the obstruction of justice complaint filed against him over his alleged role in helping Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate while authorities were attempting to arrest him.
The hearing lasted about an hour and ended with prosecutors directing the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to submit additional documents identified as annexes to the complaint.
Padilla’s lawyers were given until November to submit their counter-affidavits, while the next hearing was set for Oct. 9.
Padilla declined to discuss details of the proceedings after the hearing but said he would follow the law.
“Kung ano po ang sinasabi ng batas, yaan po ay susundin namin,” (Whatever the law says, we will follow.) Padilla said.
The complaint stemmed from allegations that Padilla helped Dela Rosa evade arrest by law enforcers tasked to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against him.
Dela Rosa had gone into hiding in late 2025 after reports that the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against him over alleged crimes against humanity linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate in May to help elect Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president. He later ran across the Senate building to evade officials who were attempting to serve the warrant.
Following a shooting incident at the Senate, Dela Rosa was seen boarding Padilla’s tinted vehicle as they left the premises in the early hours of May 14.
The PNP-CIDG later filed the obstruction complaint against Padilla and other respondents.
Padilla’s supporters gathered outside the DOJ during Friday’s hearing, with Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go among those who waited for him at the DOJ gates.
Photo courtesy of Ian Laqui/PhilStar
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