Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday maintained that fellow Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa did not escape from the Senate premises four months ago, saying dela Rosa simply boarded his vehicle and hitched a ride.
Padilla made the statement after being subpoenaed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with an obstruction of justice complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) over dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate on May 14, 2026.
“Walang takas na naganap. Siya po ay sumakay lamang sa aking sasakyan at nakisakay,” Padilla said in a press briefing at the Senate.
Padilla pointed to Senate closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, saying it would show that no police officers blocked their vehicle as they left the Senate premises.
“Hindi naman po magsisinungaling ang CCTV. Panoorin na lang natin ang CCTV kung mayroong naganap na pagtakas,” he said.
“Wala naman pong humarang sa amin na pulis. Kasi kung may humarang naman, ba’t naman kami aalis?” Padilla added.
The senator also questioned the characterization of dela Rosa’s departure as an “escape,” noting that thousands of police officers were present in the area at the time.
“Kami ay lumalakad lang. Ang imagination ko ng takas ay tumatakbo, nasa dilim. Iyon siguro ang takas. Pero iyong plain view ng pulis, nandiyan lahat. 2,000 pulis. Pambihira naman,” Padilla said.
Padilla further said that he has had no communication with Dela Rosa since the senator got out of his vehicle on May 14.
“Wala panibagong kaso na naman 'yan, wala na. Tuwing mayroong lalapit sa akin bald, natatakot ako. Baka picturan, tapos sabihin kasama ko na naman si Bato. Nung bumaba ng sasakyanko si Bato nung nakisakay siya, hindi na po kami nag-usap. Wala na. Break na po kami,” Padilla said.
The DOJ subpoenaed Padilla over the obstruction complaint linked to his role in dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate.
The incident occurred on May 14, weeks after dela Rosa left the Senate amid developments surrounding an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity in connection with former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
