Padilla, Bato seen leaving Senate building together in CCTV footage
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:14 p.m.) — CCTV footage showed that Sens. Robin Padilla and Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa exited the Senate building together following last week’s Senate fiasco.
In a social media post by broadcast journalist Arnold Clavio on May 20, it was shown that Padilla and Dela Rosa were together in the Senate building’s parking lot.
It was not shown, however, whether both rode the same vehicle that exited the Senate compound.
Dela Rosa left the Senate building at 2:30 a.m. on May 14. This was after the shooting incident, which Senate President Allan Peter Cayetano insisted was an “attack.”
In a Palace press briefing on May 19, it was shown that at 2:32 a.m., a white Toyota van was seen exiting the parking lot, with the vehicle registered to Padilla, according to Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.
In a separate press briefing on May 19, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said that the bureau already has leads on the whereabouts of Dela Rosa.
Portions of CCTV footage presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday and released to the public on May 20 showed Dela Rosa and Padilla leaving the Senate parking lot in a white Toyota van.
Why does this matter
Dela Rosa is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) due to his alleged liability as a co-perpetrator in crimes against humanity of murder committed between July 2, 2016, and the end of April 2018, during which at least 32 people were killed.
The existence of the warrant was first announced by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla in November 2025. Since then, Dela Rosa has not been appearing in the Senate.
He only appeared on May 11, after Cayetano urged him to attend the Senate session to replace Senate President Tito Sotto in the Senate leadership.
Following his appearance, Cayetano gave Dela Rosa Senate protective custody, insisting on the belief that authorities cannot apprehend Dela Rosa due to the absence of a local court warrant.
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