MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to issue a resolution on the obstruction of justice complaint against Sen. Robin Padilla over his alleged role in helping Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate, a DOJ spokesperson said Friday.
DOJ spokesperson lawyer Polo Martinez said the complaint remains under preliminary investigation.
“The case is still currently undergoing preliminary investigation,” Martinez said in a Viber message to reporters.
His statement came after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said earlier Friday that the DOJ may have already completed its review of the case.
Matibag said he believed the DOJ had finished its investigation because the NBI had submitted documents relevant to the complaint some time ago.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) recently refiled the obstruction complaint after the DOJ returned the initial filing for further investigation and additional evidence.
The complaint stems from allegations that Padilla assisted dela Rosa in leaving the Senate premises in the early hours of May 14 after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa.
Padilla recently acknowledged that dela Rosa asked him for a ride as he was leaving the Senate. Padilla said he did nothing wrong and argued that dela Rosa was not a fugitive because Philippine authorities had not issued a local arrest warrant against him.
Authorities continue to locate dela Rosa, who faces an ICC arrest warrant over his alleged involvement in the campaign against illegal drugs during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.