At A Glance
- During the preliminary investigation, Senator Robin Padilla will be given the opportunity to answer and refute the complaint.
The criminal complaint filed by police against Sen. Robin Padilla is set to undergo evaluation by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
DOJ spokesperson Prosecution Attorney Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez disclosed this on Friday, May 29, after the department received the complaint from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 28.
“As with any complaint filed before the Department, the same will be evaluated in accordance with established procedures and applicable rules,” Martinez said.
“If the evidence warrants, the matter will be docketed for the conduct of a thorough preliminary investigation to determine whether prima facie evidence exists to charge the respondents in court,” he added.
During the preliminary investigation, Padilla will be given the opportunity to answer and refute the complaint.
Once the proceedings are completed, the case will be submitted for resolution to determine whether charges should be filed in court.
The PNP-CIDG filed the complaint after Padilla publicly admitted that he helped Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leave the Senate on May 14.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant against dela Rosa after he was named as a co-perpetrator in the crimes against humanity case linked to the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa went into hiding last year amid fears of possible arrest, but resurfaced at the Senate on May 11 to participate in the vote for the chamber’s leadership change.
Despite his appearance at the Senate, the lawmaker managed to evade arrest.