By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robinhood Padilla is expected to appear before the Department of Justice today, Thursday, as prosecutors begin examining a complaint accusing him of obstructing justice by helping Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate while authorities were seeking to take him into custody.
Padilla and Lt. Col. Jean Alla Yasin Robles are respondents in the complaint arising from Dela Rosa’s May 14 departure from the Senate premises.
Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court, adding an international dimension to the case now being investigated by Philippine prosecutors.
The complaint centers on the circumstances surrounding Dela Rosa’s exit and Padilla’s alleged role in enabling him to leave the Senate.
Padilla has acknowledged that he brought Dela Rosa out of the Senate but has disputed the allegation that he deliberately helped the senator evade authorities.
The impending DOJ proceeding surfaced during Wednesday’s impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, where Padilla appeared as one of the senator-judges.
Speaking to his colleagues, Padilla acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding what could happen after the DOJ hearing.
“I don’t know what will happen next. I might miss all of you,” he said.
The remark came as Padilla continued participating in the impeachment proceedings while simultaneously facing a legal complaint over the incident involving Dela Rosa.
The DOJ investigation will focus on the events that led to Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate and whether the actions attributed to Padilla and Robles constitute obstruction of justice.
The two respondents are being allowed to answer the allegations as the preliminary investigation proceeds.
Padilla’s position is that his involvement did not amount to an effort to frustrate the enforcement of an arrest.
The DOJ will assess the complaint, the evidence submitted by investigators and the respondents’ explanations before determining whether the case should proceed.
The hearing marks the next stage in a controversy that began inside the Senate and now places one of its own members under scrutiny.
For Padilla, Thursday’s proceeding is not only about explaining what happened on May 14. It could also determine whether the allegations against him will advance beyond the preliminary investigation.
For now, no finding of guilt has been made against Padilla or Robles.
But with the DOJ set to hear the case, the senator who recently told his colleagues he might “miss all of you” is now facing a legal process that could shape what comes next.
ia/xf
