Metro Manila, Philippines – Senator Robin Padilla failed to respond to the ombudsman requiring him to answer a complaint for his alleged role in helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade arrest, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said Friday, July 17.
Remulla said Padilla did not file a counter-affidavit on the deadline set by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Surprisingly, one person has chosen to ignore the ombudsman’s order — Senator Robin Padilla,” Remulla told reporters in a press briefing.
“He has not said anything about the case and the summons given to him.”
Remulla said the deadline for the respondents to answer the complaint had lapsed.
“The deadline has passed. He chooses to ignore the ombudsman, then so be it,” he said.
He added that the case would move forward without Padilla’s response.
“The resolution will be done without his counter-affidavit. That’s his choice,” Remulla said.
The ombudsman chief also suggested that Padilla may have waived his opportunity to present a defense.
“Looks like he has chosen to waive it. I don’t know if he’s being given illegal advice,” he said.
Remulla said Senator Alan Peter Cayetano submitted his counter-affidavit on time.
He declined to discuss its contents, saying he does not personally handle the details of pending cases.
Former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mon Aplasca, meanwhile, was granted an extension to file his response.
The complaint stems from events in May, when National Bureau of Investigation agents attempted to serve an International Criminal Court warrant against Dela Rosa after the senator appeared at the Senate.
Dela Rosa later on escaped the premises together with Padilla following a Senate standoff.
The complaint stated that Padilla, Cayetano, and Aplasca obstructed law enforcement officers during the operation.
Civil society group Tindig Pilipinas filed the complaints against the three.
