Senator Robin Padilla appears at Manila DOJ to submit counter-affidavit in obstruction case

On Friday, Senator Robin Padilla presented himself at the Department of Justice in Manila to submit a counter-affidavit responding to an obstruction of justice complaint filed by the Philippine National Police. He was met by a crowd of supporters, including members of the Muslim and Christian communities, whom he thanked for their presence. Accompanied by his lawyers, Padilla stated that the filing was intended to challenge the allegations.

The police accuse him of assisting Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosa in leaving the Senate building while officials tried to serve an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for crimes against humanity. Padilla’s appearance marks the first formal step in the preliminary investigation of the case. The incident highlights tensions between lawmakers and law-enforcement agencies over the ICC warrant.