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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider De Lima on Padilla's possible offense: 'Obstruction of justice, malinaw'

De Lima on Padilla's possible offense: 'Obstruction of justice, malinaw'

Published May 15, 2026 05:19 pm

At A Glance

  • Rep. Leila de Lima says Senator Robin Padilla could face obstruction of justice charges for allegedly helping Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa escape from the Senate.
  • Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirms Padilla left the Senate with Dela Rosa, both known allies of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, as Dela Rosa faces an alleged ICC warrant over drug war killings.
  • De Lima disputes Cayetano's claim about her 2017 arrest, insisting she peacefully surrendered.
Senator Robin Padilla (Facebook)
Senator Robin Padilla (Facebook)


Senator Robin Padilla could face obstruction of justice charges for allegedly helping his colleague Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa escape following the recent chaotic events at the Senate.
Thus, said House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima in a chance interview Friday, May 15 as the whereabouts of the two senators remain unknown.
Asked about the potential legal liability of Padilla, De Lima, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, said, “Obstruction of justice, harboring a criminal fugitive, aiding and abetting a criminal fugitive."
"Obstruction of justice ‘yan, malinaw po sa akin ‘yan (That is obstruction of justice, that's very clear to me),” she underscored.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano told the media in a press conference that Padila left the Senate with Dela Rosa early Thursday, May 14 after the unprecedented shooting incident at the Senate building in Pasay City the previous day.
Dela Rosa and Padilla are staunch allies of the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, who is expected to soon become the subject of a Senate impeachment trial.
De Lima, who is part of the 11-strong House prosecution team in the upcoming impeachment trial, says it is the people and the rule of law who are losers in Dela Rosa's escape.
Dela Rosa, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief in the previous Duterte administration, is viewed as a wanted man by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for killings committed during the bloody war on drugs.
He is being hounded by the alleged release of an arrest warrant by The Hague-based court.
Cayetano is wrong
Reacting to Senate President Cayetano’s statement that she sought refuge in the Senate in 2017 when she was senator, De Lima disputed the Senate leader’s recollection of events when she was arrested on drug charges during the Duterte administration.
“Naku, maling-maling ‘yang mga sinasabi ni Senate President Alan. Ako po ay mapayapa na nag-surrender noon, noong ako ay inaresto noong Feb 24, 2017,” she said.
(Oh, what Senate President Alan is saying is completely wrong. I peacefully surrendered when I was arrested on Feb. 24, 2017.)
De Lima recalled that the day before the arrest warrant was issued, she went home to say goodbye to her family and get some things.
“Before that, the day before lumabas ‘yung warrant of arrest ay umuwi muna ako noon para magpaalam sa pamilya, para kunin ‘yung aking mga gamit pero bumalik din ako kaagad sa Senado at nag-stay ako overnight doon para kausapin din yung aking mga staff. So the next day kaagad,” she said.
(Before that, the day before the warrant of arrest came out, I went home first to say goodbye to my family and to get my things, but I immediately returned to the Senate and stayed overnight there to also speak with my staff. So the very next day.)
She said it was not true that she was given a few days to be home with her family.
“So hindi po totoo yung sinasabi na hindi ako inaresto o hindi ako nag-surrender doon sa Senate premises at hindi rin po ‘yung sinasabi na binigyan ako ng few days daw na makauwi muna."
(So it is not true that I was not arrested or that I did not surrender at the Senate premises, and it is also not true that I was supposedly given a few days to go home first.)

Related Tags

Robin Padilla Leila de Lima Ronald \'Bato\' Dela Rosa Alan Peter Cayetano Obstruction of justice
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