Groups file obstruction complaint vs Cayetano, Padilla over Bato’s ‘escape’

A coalition of civil society and pro-democracy groups filed an obstruction of justice complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against two senators and a Senate official over allegations they helped prevent the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa, who is being sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Tindig Pilipinas on Wednesday filed the complaint against Senate President Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Senator Robinhood Ferdinand C. Padilla and suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao R. Aplasca.

The complainants alleged that the respondents used their official positions to frustrate law enforcement efforts linked to the implementation of an ICC warrant against Mr. Dela Rosa over crimes against humanity allegations tied to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

Francis Joseph Aquino Dee, convenor of Tindig Pilipinas, said the respondents coordinated actions that allowed Mr. dela Rosa to avoid arrest during chaotic events inside the Senate in early May.

Mr. Dee alleged that the respondents used the authority of their offices to place Mr. Dela Rosa under protective custody, facilitate his departure from the Senate building using a vehicle linked to Mr. Padilla and obstruct efforts to carry out the arrest, amid the violence that erupted inside the Senate that night.

“They managed to do all that using their office,” he told reporters in Filipino.

The complaint marks the first formal legal action connected to the incident.

Mr. Padilla earlier denied claims that Mr. Dela Rosa escaped, saying that leaving the Senate through exits monitored by closed-circuit television cameras and amid a heavy police presence could not be considered evasion.

Mr. Cayetano, meanwhile, previously said the senator had merely “chosen to leave.”

Mr. dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police chief and chief implementer of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing linked to the ICC investigation. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking