PNP-CIDG links Padilla to Bato escape route

Authorities intensified efforts to locate Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa on May 27 as police investigators prepared obstruction complaints against Sen. Robin Padilla over the senator’s exit from the Senate compound.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said its investigation found that Dela Rosa’s transport from the Senate before dawn on May 14 was allegedly part of a coordinated effort to evade authorities seeking to enforce an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in the drug war under former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“Following a thorough investigation, the CIDG has officially concluded that the transport of Senator dela Rosa was not a mere hitch ride on Senator Padilla’s car, but a highly coordinated, pre-planned logistical maneuver specifically executed to avoid detection while escaping the Senate premises on the dawn of May 14, 2026,” the CIDG said in a statement.

In addition, the police unit stated that investigators found another vehicle allegedly tailing Padilla’s car and acted as a “security escort and backup car” during the operation. 

Authorities have yet to identify the other individuals who may also face complaints alongside Padilla.

“The PNP CIDG will refer a complaint for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829 (Obstruction of Justice) against Sen. Robinhood ‘Robin’ C. Padilla and several persons who facilitated the escape of Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ M. Dela Rosa before the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice,” the CIDG uttered.

Under Presidential Decree No. 1829, obstruction of justice includes harboring or concealing a person believed to have committed an offense, or facilitating that person’s escape to prevent arrest, prosecution or conviction. The law also penalizes acts that interfere with criminal investigations or court proceedings.

Meanwhile, the CIDG cautioned that anyone discovered interfering with arrests or helping fugitives could face criminal prosecution and stated that the filing of the complaint was part of its responsibility to apply the law equally and without discrimination.

“When individuals actively interfere in the arrest or assist in the evasion of criminal offenders to avoid prosecution, it undermines the justice system and compromises public order,” the CIDG added.

On May 11, Dela Rosa was placed under the Senate’s ‘protective custody’ due to worries that the ICC warrant might be served. He and Padilla departed the facility in a white Toyota vehicle purportedly owned by the senator two days after a shooting incident occurred on Senate property. 

Padilla has consistently denied aiding Dela Rosa in avoiding capture. He had previously claimed that the senator simply ‘hitched’ a ride with him following the incident and that he dropped him off at Makati City without knowing his next destination.

The senator refuted allegations that there was an escape, pointing out that security guards and police were present as they departed the Senate facility.

In a similar vein, Senate President Alan Cayetano contended that since Dela Rosa was neither in custody or under arrest at the time, he did not technically ‘escape’.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida stated that Padilla’s public remarks about Dela Rosa’s disappearance were being examined by the Department of Justice in a separate statement. 

While the National Bureau of Investigation has recommended revoking Dela Rosa’s firearm licenses after describing him as potentially armed and dangerous, authorities are still working to locate him.