Padilla, Cayetano, Aplasca Face Obstruction Of Justice Raps
The complainants said Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s arrest was “knowingly and willfully obstructed, impeded, frustrated or delayed” even if he is the subject of an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity.
Opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas and rights groups filed on Wednesday, June 3, an obstruction of justice complaint against Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Robinhood Padilla and suspended Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca over the escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa from custody last month.
Complainants, led by Tindig Pilipinas convenor Kiko Aquino Dee, claimed Cayetano, Padilla and Aplasca “knowingly and willfully obstructed, impeded, frustrated or delayed” the apprehension of Dela Rosa, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for crimes against humanity.
They cited how Cayetano placed Dela Rosa under so-called Senate protective custody on May 11 after the latter suddenly surfaced at the Senate after six months of absence to help install the former to the Senate presidency.
The custody, which they said had no lawful basis, prevented law enforcement authorities from serving the warrant and served as a “sanctuary to shield Dela Rosa from apprehension.”
The complainants also cited the warning shots fired by Aplasca, which they said caused confusion, panic and disorder, after which Dela Rosa was able to flee the Senate premises.
They also mentioned the statements of Padilla, who confirmed that Dela Rosa left the Senate in his vehicle and was dropped off in Makati.
Other complainants include Sylvia Estrada Claudio; Cielo Magno; Fr. Flavie Villanueva; Randy delos Santos, the uncle of slain teenager Kian delos Santos; Judy Ann Chan Miranda of Partido Manggagawa; Susan Balindo of Baigani Feminist Collective; Eugene Gonzalez and Yvonne Jereza of Magdalo Party; Matthew Silverio of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines; Venus Crisostomo of Youth Resist and Pinky Tam.
Dela Rosa was the chief implementer of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs as then Philippine National Police chief.
Since his escape from the Senate on May 14, Dela Rosa has yet to be arrested.
Padilla is already facing another obstruction of justice complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ). Aplasca, on the other hand, has been placed under a six-month preventive suspension as the Office of the Ombudsman investigates the shooting incident.
Despite the Tindig Pilipinas complaint, the DOJ will still continue its fact-finding investigation into the events that transpired at the Senate from May 11-14, spokesman Polo Martinez said on Wednesday.
Martinez said that even if the complaint has been formally filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, it would have no effect on the DOJ’s ongoing probe.
The DOJ official added that their “panel remains open to receiving any evidence that may assist in its investigation.”
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division has junked former speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez’s bid to lift the precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against him as the government continues its investigation on the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. – With Evelyn Macairan
