A coalition of human rights advocates and relatives of drug war victims has filed an obstruction of justice complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robin Padilla, and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca over the alleged escape of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa from the Senate.
Tindig Pilipinas accused the three officials of allegedly helping Dela Rosa evade arrest after the National Bureau of Investigation attempted to serve a warrant against him at the Senate in May.
Tindig Pilipinas convenor Kiko Aquino Dee said public officials must not use their positions to block lawful processes or shield allies from accountability.
“The rule of law requires accountability. Public office must never be used as a shield against justice. When officials use their positions to frustrate lawful processes and protect their allies from accountability, they betray the public trust and undermine our democratic institutions,” Dee said.
Dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief under the Duterte administration, was among the key implementers of the government’s bloody anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups said left thousands dead.
The complaint stemmed from events surrounding Dela Rosa’s reappearance at the Senate on May 11, when he showed up to support Cayetano’s bid for the Senate presidency after months of hiding amid reports that authorities were preparing to arrest him in connection with the International Criminal Court’s crimes against humanity case.
The NBI attempted to arrest Dela Rosa that same day, but the operation failed after Cayetano maintained that the senator was under the Senate’s “protective custody.”
Dela Rosa later stayed inside the Senate compound, where authorities were unable to take him into custody.
On May 13, a shooting incident involving Aplasca and alleged NBI personnel took place inside the Senate premises. Aplasca, Dela Rosa’s classmate at the Philippine Military Academy, had been appointed Senate security chief on the same day Dela Rosa returned to the Senate.
Hours after the incident, Dela Rosa left the Senate compound accompanied by Padilla and his alleged chief of staff, according to the complaint.
Dela Rosa remains at large.
Tindig Pilipinas said the Ombudsman complaint is part of efforts to hold accountable public officials who allegedly interfered with attempts to enforce the law.
The case adds to the legal and political pressure on Cayetano, Padilla, and Aplasca, who have been accused of playing a role in Dela Rosa’s escape from arrest.