‘Hindi naman pagtakas ‘yon’: Padilla says Dela Rosa did not evade arrest

CCTV footage from the Senate premises showed how Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa exited the Senate building hours after gunfire erupted in the building on May 14th. Dela Rosa was seen in a jacket and a cap, with Senator Robinhood Padilla accompanying him on his way out. PNP screengrab & Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla argued that Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa did not evade arrest after the Senate gunfire incident in May because no Philippine-issued warrant of arrest had been served against him at the time.

Padilla made the statement during his appearance at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, as he faced a preliminary investigation into an obstruction of justice complaint accusing him of helping Dela Rosa evade arrest.

”Hindi naman pagtakas ‘yon. Pero wala naman [Philippine-issued warrant of arrest] eh,” Padilla told reporters in an ambush interview.

”Galing din naman sa bibig ng ating kaibigan na si DILG Secretary (Jonvic Remulla) noong oras na ‘yon, noong andon siya sa senado, wala talaga siyang hawak na warrant of arrest,” he added.

“Wala pa pong standing warrant of the ICC (International Criminal Court) [at the time of the incident]. We stand by it,” Balteza said.

Balteza said he submitted a 33-page counter-affidavit responding to the allegations against the senator. However, he did not disclose details on the preliminary investigation.

Asked if he would urge Dela Rosa to surrender, Padilla responded in the negative.

“Kung ICC ‘to, kahit naman ako, hindi rin ako susuko. Right ‘yan ni (Sen.) Bato… Wala naman akong nakitang local warrant of arrest. Walang local court na naghahanap sa kanya. Dayuhan ito. Umiinit ang ulo ko ah,” he said.

Padilla also questioned the P50-million bounty offered for information leading to Dela Rosa’s arrest.

“Kung ako ang tatanungin, bakit nagkaron tayo ng ganun (pabuya)? Sana walang ganun,” he said.

Asked what message he had for Dela Rosa, Padilla said he envied the senator because foreign authorities were pursuing him, while he was facing a complaint filed by fellow Filipinos.

“Ganito lang ‘yan… noong binitay si (Macario) Sacay, masarap ang pakiramdam niya, Amerikano ang nagpabitay sa kanya. Si (Andres) Bonifacio nung pinatay … masama ang loob ni Bonifacio kasi kapwa niya Pilipino,” he added.

Padilla said he would return to the DOJ on Nov. 27 for the continuation of the preliminary investigation.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Bondoc, counsel for Padilla’s co-respondent, arrived at the DOJ shortly before noon.

Bondoc declined to name his client, whom he described as a relative of Padilla.

“The only reason why we do not disclose the name of our client is because he was erroneously included in this case. He’s not present at all. It’s just a theory of our defense that it is a case of error of persona, mistaken identity,” Bondoc said.

“So we are avoiding any more undue attention to our client kaya hindi na namin pinapangalanan. It’s nothing secretive,” he added.

“He was actually elsewhere receiving medical treatment [during the alleged incident],” he added.

Bondoc also claimed that authorities raided his client’s house without a search warrant and that his client had not received a subpoena.

Padilla said he and his relatives were accustomed to such incidents.

“Pag ganito naman na mga pagkakataon, sanay na kami sa ganyan. Talagang kami lagi ang biktima. Hindi pa ako senador, sanay na ako sa raid. Sanay na rin mga kamag-anak ko sa ganyan,” Padilla said.

Bondoc said they would consider several factors before deciding to file a complaint over the alleged raid.

Meanwhile, Padilla called for the defense to be given the opportunity to present evidence in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Inaantay na po namin ito, yung pagpresenta ng evidence. Ang tanong ko lang po, papaano yung mga naunang article? Ano ‘yon, ganun na lang ba yun?” Padilla said.

”Ako ay nalulungkot sapagkat para sa akin, kailangan naming marinig kahit na ayaw ituloy ng prosekusyon…. sana mapagbigyan kami,” he added.

Three of the four impeachment articles against Duterte were earlier dropped by the prosecution, leaving Article II on her alleged unexplained wealth to proceed to trial before the Senate impeachment court.

Padilla said he did not mind how long the proceedings would take, as long as due process was observed.