A coalition of civil society and pro-democracy groups filed an obstruction of justice complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against two senators and a Senate official over allegations they helped prevent the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa, who is being sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Tindig Pilipinas, along with other groups, lodged the complaint on Wednesday, as reported by BusinessWorld .
The complaint specifically names Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Robinhood “Robin” Padilla, along with an unnamed Senate official, for allegedly facilitating what the groups describe as an “escape” to avoid Dela Rosa’s arrest and surrender to the ICC. The ICC has been investigating Dela Rosa’s role in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The complainants argued that the actions of the senators and the official obstructed the course of justice by preventing lawful service of an arrest warrant. The Ombudsman has yet to comment on the filing. The development adds to the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding the ICC’s investigation into the drug war killings.