Senator Robin Padilla on Monday declined to confirm or deny allegations that he helped Senator Ronald Dela Rosa leave the Senate premises following last week’s shooting incident, saying ongoing investigations should determine what really happened.
“Naku, hintayin na lang natin ang imbestigasyon,” Padilla told reporters in a chance interview.
“Mas maganda, sa imbestigasyon ako magsasalita. Pagtapos ng imbestigasyon ay saka na lang,” he added.
Padilla refused to directly answer questions on why Dela Rosa left the Senate despite being under protective custody, insisting that the matter should be addressed through the official investigation.
“Of course because there is an official investigation…Mas maganda may official,” he said.
Speculation surrounding Dela Rosa’s departure intensified after reports and social media posts claimed he may have escaped through various means, including allegedly using a yacht owned by former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson or leaving through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Padilla denied the rumors.
“Hindi totoo yung NAIA. Hindi totoo yung yate,” he said.
Veteran columnist Ramon Tulfo earlier claimed an unnamed politician supposedly helped Dela Rosa flee toward Batangas using Singson’s yacht before allegedly boarding a helicopter bound for Mindanao.
Singson has since denied involvement.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier confirmed that the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms reported Dela Rosa left the Senate premises around 2:30 am Thursday together with Padilla.
Cayetano said Dela Rosa could not be forcibly detained because the Senate had not received a copy of the alleged arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Dela Rosa is facing possible charges before the ICC in connection with the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, where he served as chief of the Philippine National Police.
The senator resurfaced last week after months away from Senate sessions to participate in the leadership vote that installed Cayetano as Senate President.
Dela Rosa earlier acknowledged that Cayetano personally asked him to attend the session and cast his vote during the leadership change.