The outspoken Akbayan Party-list Rep. Peri Cendaña finds Senator Robin Padilla's actions and utterances about the "wanted" Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa downright amusing.

“Imbes na maging palusot, nagmistulang confession ang pahayag ni Sen. Robin (Instead of being an excuse, Senator Robin’s statement turned into a confession)," Cendaña, a House deputy minority leader, said in a statement Friday, May 22.

It all started when Padilla claimed that he didn't in any way help Dela Rosa escape the premises of the Senate last Thursday, May 14.

The Akbayan lawmaker pointed out that Padilla contradicted himself by admitting that Bato joined him in his vehicle when he left the Senate early Thursday morning.

“Ang nakakatawa dito, paano masasabi ni Sen. Robin na hindi niya itinakas si Sen. Bato, e inamin niya na siya ang nag-udyok na umalis ito sa Senado at sa kaniya rin ang getaway vehicle,” Cendaña said.

(What’s funny here is how Senator Robin can say he didn’t help Senator Bato escape, when he admitted that he urged him to leave the Senate and even provided the getaway vehicle.)

According to him, Padilla may have unknowingly committed an offense in the eyes of The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Baka na-FOMO (fear of missing out) si Sen. Robin kay Digong and Bato. Ayan tuloy na-violate niya ang Article 70 ng Rome Statute on ‘Offenses against the administration of Justice’ dahil sa pag-obstruct niya sa enforcement ng ICC warrant,” he said.

(Maybe Senator Robin felt FOMO with Digong and Bato. As a result, he violated Article 70 of the Rome Statute on ‘Offenses against the administration of Justice’ by obstructing the enforcement of the ICC warrant.)

The DOJ has recently stated that the warrant of arrest issued by the International ICC is valid. 

Aside from a violation of the Rome Statute, Cendaña urged law enforcement agencies to investigate Padilla, a former action movie star, for possible legal liabilities specifically under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1829 penalizing obstruction of justice which, among other acts, punishes any person who facilitates the escape to prevent an arrest.

Aside from serving prison, violators also suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Mader Perci said, "At the very least, our authorities should investigate and question Sen. Robin on the whereabouts of Bato and if necessary file the necessary charges.”

Cendaña reiterated his call for a nationwide manhunt for the "fugitive" Dela Rosa, as he argued that the country should never be a haven for human rights violators and fugitives of international law.

He further took a swipe at the Senate for allegedly coddling Dela Rosa when the latter resurfaced at the chamber last May 11, only to let him escape.

“Isang kahihiyan ang pagkakanlong ng ilang Senador para sa isang pumatay ng libu-libo. ‘Wag sanang madagdagan pa itong nakakahiyang pagsasalaula sa katarungan at karapatang pantao."

(It is a disgrace for some Senators to harbor someone responsible for killing thousands. Let us not add further shameful acts that desecrate justice and human rights.)

"If the government is serious in capturing this fugitive then a nationwide manhunt is absolutely necessary,” he stressed.