Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla disputed claims that he had helped Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa “escape” Senate premises, claiming they could not have managed to do so as there were a considerable number of security personnel scattered inside and outside the building, the senator’s office said in a Friday press release.
Padilla claimed they had left the Senate in the presence of police officers and security personnel and had not sought to evade authorities.
“Paano kami tatakas? Ang daming pulis sa loob at labas ng Senado, may CCTV pa. Wala namang humarang sa amin,” he said in an interview.
In addition, he said that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were unable to present them with a warrant of arrest issued by a local court. Hence, Padilla said Dela Rosa would have no reason to “escape.”
“Wala namang warrant. Ayon mismo sa Senate President, wala ring local warrant. Kaya very relaxed kami,” Padilla said.
Padilla also said he had accompanied Dela Rosa for three days after he reappeared following a six-month absence.
Moreover, Padilla claimed tensions began on Wednesday, with rumors of a Senate leadership change and the possible transmission of the articles of impeachment.
“Ramdam mo na iba na ang ambience. May mga armadong kalalakihan na sa labas. May mga rally, may mga usapang lalala ang sitwasyon,” he said, adding that tensions escalated when they were informed that a shooting incident was occurring in a lower floor.
At the time, Padilla said he and Senator Dela Rosa were in their respective offices on the fifth floor of the building.
“May mga senador na natakot talaga. Madilim, walang ilaw, tense ang sitwasyon. May mga umiiyak na. Kaya bumaba ako para tingnan kung ayos lang ang lahat,” he said.
Dela also looked visibly worried not over what the incident meant for him, but over the other senators’, reporters’, and others’ safety, Padilla said.
“Nakita ko kay Sen. Bato na iniisip niya kung paano madi-diffuse ang sitwasyon. Pulis kasi ang puso niyan,” he explained.
Padilla said the exchange between Dela Rosa and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla was without tension. Remulla told him he had come, not to arrest Dela Rosa, but to secure the area following the shooting incident.
It was in the early morning hours of Thursday that Dela Rosa told Padilla he needed to leave as his wife was looking for him. The former had requested to ride home in the latter’s car, as he had been brought to the Senate on Monday in Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s car.
Padilla said he will not accept Dela Rosa being labelled a “fugitive.”
“Para sa akin, hindi siya fugitive. Hindi ko matanggap na basta na lang natin tatawaging ganoon dahil sinabi ng dayuhan. Kailangan din nating igalang ang sarili nating proseso bilang bansa,” he said.
On Monday, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was unseated, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano taking over. On the same day, Senator Dela Rosa reappeared during the session after precisely six months missing in action, claiming he had been wrestled and chased by NBI agents in an attempt to bar his entry and serve an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
