Facing an obstruction of justice complaint, Sen. Robin Padilla declared Wednesday that he intends to stand before Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors, describing his reaction to the subpoena in unexpectedly positive terms.
“Naligayahan po ako… Hindi ako nalugmok, hindi ako nalungkot,” the senator said of how the legal notice affected him. He confirmed directly that he would present himself to the DOJ prosecution panel to give his account.
At the center of the case is a claim that Padilla helped Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa slip away in the pre-dawn hours of May 14. Dela Rosa, currently at-large, is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant tied to alleged crimes against humanity connected to the anti-drug campaign.
The complaint originated with the Philippine National Police. According to the account of that morning, Senate CCTV footage captured Dela Rosa getting into Padilla’s vehicle only hours after a shooting incident at the Senate.
Padilla rejected the characterization that any getaway took place. “Walang takas na nagaganap. Siya po ay sumakay lang sa aking sasakyan,” he said, framing the moment as nothing more than a passenger entering his car.
The timing of the CCTV sighting fell shortly after the ICC made public its warrant for Dela Rosa. That warrant had been issued back in November 2025, coinciding with the period when Dela Rosa initially dropped out of sight.
Under the DOJ’s instructions, Padilla must submit his counteraffidavit on two dates, September 25 and October 9. He maintained that the prospect of the obstruction case holds no fear for him.
Speaking on the senator’s behalf, legal counsel Atty. Henry Balteza pledged full cooperation with the proceedings and pushed back on the premise of the allegations, asserting that “the actions of Sen. Padilla are in no way illegal.”
