DOJ subpoenas Robin Padilla over Bato dela Rosa escape

SENATOR. Senator-judge Robin Padilla questions National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 22, 2026.

Senate Social Media Unit

The senator is directed to appear before state prosecutors on September 25 and October 9 at the Department of Justice headquarters

AT A GLANCE

• The Department of Justice has issued a subpoena to Senator Robin Padilla regarding an obstruction of justice complaint linked to Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa's escape from the Senate.
• Padilla is required to appear before state prosecutors on September 25 and October 9, following allegations that he facilitated Dela Rosa's escape in May.
• Dela Rosa had been evading an International Criminal Court warrant and was last seen leaving the Senate with Padilla shortly before his disappearance.

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MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena to Senator Robin Padilla over an obstruction of justice complaint filed against him for his alleged role in Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa‘s escape from the Senate.

“The Department confirms that subpoenas were served on Sen. Robinhood Padilla and Lt. Col. Jean Alla Yasin Robles at around 2:30 pm today at the Senate, in connection with the pending complaint against them for alleged violation of PD 1829 (Obstruction of Justice),” DOJ spokesperson Raphael Martinez said.

Based on the subpoena, Padilla was directed to appear before state prosecutors on September 25 and October 9 at the DOJ headquarters in Ermita, Manila.

Rappler reached out to Padilla for comment, but he has yet to respond as of this writing. He seemingly alluded to the subpoena in an earlier Facebook post.

“A subpoena has arrived,” his post read.

Dela Rosa escape

In May, the DOJ’s National Prosecution Service confirmed that the police had referred an obstruction of justice complaint against Padilla and other individuals for allegedly “facilitating” Dela Rosa’s escape from the Senate.

It can be recalled that Dela Rosa initially went into hiding to evade an International Criminal Court warrant over his alleged crimes against humanity in connection with former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and the Davao Death Squad killings.

He reappeared on May 11 to back Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s bid for Senate presidency and sought refuge inside the Senate. However, he left the premises on May 14, hours after a shooting incident inside the Senate, and has remained out of public view.

Padilla was named a person of interest by the National Bureau of Investigation on May 15 after it was revealed that Dela Rosa had left the Senate compound with him at around 2:30 am on May 14.

On May 22, the lawmaker said his ally had merely asked him for a ride and that Dela Rosa got off somewhere in Makati City, where a vehicle was already waiting for the former Philippine National Police chief. – Rappler.com