Senator Robinhood Padilla said he personally dropped off Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in Makati after they left the Senate following the incident involving gunfire at the premises on May 13.
Padilla said their departure from the Senate before dawn of May 14 was not blocked by police or security personnel stationed in the area.
“Paano kami tatakas? Ang daming pulis sa loob at labas ng Senado, may CCTV pa. Wala namang humarang sa amin,” Padilla said in an interview.
He added that Senate leadership had informed them that there was no local warrant at the time, which made them “very relaxed.”
Padilla said he informed Dela Rosa before leaving that he needed to go home as his wife was looking for him, to which the senator reportedly replied that he would join him.
“Ang sabi ni Sen. Bato, ‘Sasabay na ko.’ Alangan naming tanggihan ko yun?” Padilla said, noting that Dela Rosa did not have a vehicle at the time.
According to Padilla, Dela Rosa was later dropped off in Makati, where his own vehicle picked him up. He said he did not ask where the senator went afterward.
The incident comes amid the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) unsealing of an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, who is accused alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte and others of crimes against humanity in connection with the drug war.
The Supreme Court earlier denied Dela Rosa’s request for a temporary restraining order, allowing authorities to proceed with the enforcement of the ICC warrant, according to the Department of Justice.
Dela Rosa’s legal counsel has said they plan to appeal the ruling.
Padilla, meanwhile, rejected the DOJ’s characterization of Dela Rosa as a “fugitive,” saying the label was inappropriate.
“Para sa akin, hindi siya fugitive… Kailangan din nating igalang ang sarili nating proseso bilang bansa,” he said.
Dela Rosa served as Philippine National Police chief from 2016 to 2018 during the early phase of the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign before being elected to the Senate.
