Palace hits Padilla over alleged aid in Dela Rosa Senate ‘escape’
MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro on Monday criticized Sen. Robin Padilla over what appeared to be a contradiction between his previous statements and his alleged actions involving ally Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Padilla had previously stressed that a person facing a warrant of arrest should surrender to authorities — a principle Castro said now appears inconsistent with his alleged assistance to dela Rosa’s “escape” from the Senate.
READ: Padilla is a ‘person of interest’ in dela Rosa’s escape from Senate – NBI
Following reports that the two senators left the Senate premises together, a 2018 video resurfaced showing Padilla, then still a private citizen, urging then-Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV to surrender to authorities over a pending warrant of arrest for rebellion.
However, now-Sen. Padilla appears to have veered away from those earlier remarks after allegedly helping his political ally and fellow Senate majority bloc member evade the authorities.
“There will be an investigation, and we also saw the words that came out of Sen. Robin Padilla’s mouth at that time when he was still an ordinary citizen — that if a warrant of arrest is being served, one should surrender,” said Castro when asked how the Palace views his alleged helping of dela Rosa.
She added, “But why are we not hearing those same words directly from Senator Robin Padilla regarding his ally, Senator Bato dela Rosa? Is there a double standard? Is there selective treatment or selective attention being given?”
Castro further said the public should remain critical of the actions of public servants in relation to dela Rosa’s case.
READ: SolGen counters Dela Rosa’s SC petition vs ICC arrest
“So, whoever should be held accountable here — if there were lapses, violations of the law, or anyone involved in hiding or helping someone escape — we Filipinos should also remain vigilant and critical of the actions of our public servants,” she said.
In the 2018 video, Padilla said, “We ordinary people have no choice when there’s a case against us. When the police tell us we need to go with them, we go with them.”
“Don’t hide behind the Senate’s protection!” he also said.
Padilla a ‘person of interest‘
According to National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag, Padilla is now considered a “person of interest” in the “escape” of dela Rosa.
Padilla reportedly accompanied dela Rosa when the latter left the Senate premises a few hours after a shooting incident occurred on Wednesday evening.
Matibag said Padilla should first be questioned regarding dela Rosa’s whereabouts because he was reportedly the last person seen with the senator before he disappeared. /das
