MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robin Padilla appeared before the Department of Justice yesterday for the first DOJ hearing in the preliminary investigation of the allegations that the actor-turned-politician helped Sen. Ronald dela Rosa evade arrest in May.
Defense lawyer Jimmy Bondoc said Padilla and the other respondents have yet to submit their counter-affidavits to the obstruction of justice complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
The CIDG, Bondoc said, still has to submit some documents to support its complaint.
“We still have not submitted the counter-affidavits because this is still a hearing for preliminary matters. The other side still has a few submissions to do,” Bondoc said.
Upon arriving at the DOJ, Padilla thanked his supporters who gathered outside the department’s premises, but declined to give further details about the case.
“It is hard to give an opinion, or any comment. But whatever the law says, we will comply,” Padilla said.
The PNP-CIDG accused Padilla and his co-respondents of helping Dela Rosa evade arrest after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in relation to the Duterte administration’s drug war.
Padilla had earlier admitted that Dela Rosa hitched a ride in his sport utility vehicle on May 14. Dela Rosa remains at large.
A separate complaint of obstruction of justice was filed against Padilla by civic group Tindig Pilipinas before the Office of the Ombudsman.