MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday that it has not yet issued a resolution in connection with the obstruction of justice case filed against Senator Robin Padilla over the alleged escape of Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa.
According to DOJ spokesperson, Polo Martinez, the case remains under preliminary investigation, contradicting an earlier statement by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Melvin Matibag that the DOJ probe had been completed and a resolution may be forthcoming.
Records showed that the complaint was refiled by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) against individuals allegedly involved in helping Dela Rosa evade arrest.
Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato had said that the complaint was filed under a DOJ circular, which provides for coordination and information exchange between prosecutors and law enforcement agencies before a complaint proceeds to preliminary investigation.
The case stemmed from allegations that Padilla and others helped facilitate Dela Rosa's alleged escape following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the Duterte administration's anti-illegal drug campaign.
The justice department had referred the original complaint back to the CIDG for further investigation after prosecutors sought additional evidence and statements from concerned individuals.
