MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla has yet to respond to a summons from the Office of the Ombudsman requiring him to answer an obstruction of justice complaint linked to the alleged escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in May, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Remulla said the deadline for Padilla to submit his counteraffidavit had already lapsed.
“He has not said anything about the cases and the summons given to him,” Remulla said. “The deadline has passed. He chooses to ignore the Ombudsman, then so be it.”
Remulla said the Ombudsman would resolve the complaint even without Padilla’s response if none is filed.
Assistant Ombudsman Moreno Generoso issued the summons on June 23, directing Padilla, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and dismissed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca to answer the complaint filed by Tindig Pilipinas within 15 days.
Remulla said Cayetano had already submitted his counteraffidavit, while Aplasca requested and was granted an extension.
The complaint stems from events in May when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents attempted to arrest Dela Rosa based on an International Criminal Court warrant. After being placed under Senate protective custody, Dela Rosa later left the Senate premises aboard Padilla’s vehicle.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group concluded that Dela Rosa’s departure was not merely a “hitch ride” but a “highly coordinated, preplanned logistical maneuver” intended to help him evade authorities.
Tindig Pilipinas alleged that Cayetano, Padilla and Aplasca violated Presidential Decree No. 1829, or the obstruction of justice law, by allegedly impeding the enforcement of legal process.
The issue also came days after Padilla, during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, urged National Bureau of Investigation regional director Jeremy Lotoc, a prosecution witness facing a separate complaint before the Ombudsman, to confront the case filed against him promptly.
As of Friday night, Padilla had not publicly commented on Remulla’s statement.