The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Wednesday said it will file a complaint against Senator Robin Padilla and several others for allegedly helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade authorities following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.
In a statement, the CIDG said the complaint for alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829, or obstruction of justice, will be referred to the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice.
“The transport of Senator Dela Rosa was not a mere hitch ride on Senator Padilla’s car, but a highly coordinated, pre-planned logistical maneuver specifically executed to avoid detection while escaping the Senate premises in the dawn of May 14, 2026,” the CIDG said.
The CIDG added that investigators also discovered another vehicle allegedly tailing Padilla’s car, which supposedly served as a security escort and backup vehicle during the operation.
According to the CIDG, the filing of charges is in line with its mandate to investigate crimes and enforce the law “equitably and without exception.”
“When individuals actively interfere in the arrest or assist in the evasion of criminal offenders to avoid prosecution, it undermines the justice system and compromises public order,” the CIDG said.
“The PNP-CIDG emphasizes that any act of obstruction of justice will be met with criminal prosecution,” it added.
Earlier, the ICC confirmed that it had issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa in connection with killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
On May 13, while the Senate building was under lockdown and dela Rosa was reportedly under the protective custody of the upper chamber, gunshots were heard inside the Senate premises.
Hours later, before dawn on May 14, dela Rosa left the Senate complex.
Padilla, however, denied helping dela Rosa escape. On May 22, the senator said the former police chief merely asked to hitch a ride with him out of the Senate building following the shooting incident.
Meanwhile, Fredderick Vida on Tuesday appealed to dela Rosa to surrender to authorities after the senator again disappeared from public view amid the ICC arrest warrant.
Vida also said the DOJ is looking into the possible liability of Padilla after the senator admitted that dela Rosa had “hitched a ride” with him out of the Senate building on May 14.
