MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla has missed the deadline to submit his counter-affidavit in the ongoing obstruction of justice investigation stemming from allegations that he and several others helped Sen. Ronald dela Rosa evade an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant and escape Senate premises in May.
At a press briefing, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Padilla failed to respond to the summons issued by his office, setting the senator apart from his co-respondents who have already coordinated with investigators.
“He has not filed anything, he has not responded, he has not said anything about the cases we... the summons given to him,” Remulla said.
Remulla said the deadline had already lapsed, explaining that if “he chooses to ignore the ombudsman, then so be it. He will have no defense.”
The obstruction of justice probe stems from allegations that Padilla, former Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano and former Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca helped Dela Rosa evade an ICC arrest warrant and escape Senate premises in May.
Remulla confirmed that Cayetano complied and submitted his counter-affidavit on time. Meanwhile, Aplasca requested and was granted an extension until July 23 to file his defense.
Remulla noted that the panel will wait for Aplasca’s submission before resolving the cases, but stressed that the process will move forward with or without Padilla’s input.
“We will decide, the resolution will be done without his counter-affidavit. That is his choice,” Remulla said, noting that respondents are always given the opportunity to dispute the allegations.
Remulla also quickly shot down speculations that the charges are part of a targeted political attack against the Senate minority bloc.
“No such thing. Remember, many of them were allies from the very beginning. That’s just... that’s the way it is,” Remulla stressed.
Counter-affidavits
Cayetano and Aplasca have submitted their counter-affidavits to the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with a complaint alleging obstruction of justice over the “escape” of Dela Rosa last May 14, their lawyers said on Friday.
In a statement, Cayetano’s lawyers said the senator’s counter-affidavit was initially sent by registered mail on July 8 as a precaution amid possible government office suspensions due to Typhoon Inday.
The following day, July 9, Cayetano’s legal team personally filed a manifestation with the Office of the Ombudsman informing the anti-graft agency of the earlier submission and attaching a copy of the counter-affidavit.
The lawyers issued the clarification after learning that the ombudsman had reportedly confirmed receiving the senator’s counter-affidavit.
Meanwhile, a counsel for Aplasca said his client also filed his counter-affidavit on July 9 in connection with the same ombudsman investigation.