WITH A PALACE-backed Senate leadership in place, the Department of Justice (DOJ) hinted at reviving its investigation into the chronological sequence of events moments before Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa escaped to evade arrest.
According to the DOJ, the investigation would try to determine whether the Senate protective custody, as well as the ‘shootout’ was part of the plan to help the fugitive senator avoid being arrested in view of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
According to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Wednesday, the DOJ’s special panel was looking into “specific actions” that could have obstructed justice and that they are “looking at the big picture,” Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters.
“Tinitignan pangkalahatan na yung mga actions ba nung simula pa lang, ito ba ay planado, mas malaking plano, di ba? Nilagay siya sa protective custody, ito ba ay kasama sa plano?”
SINISTER MOVES
He added that the probe would also include former Senate President Peter Alan Cayetano.
“Yung pagsasalita ba or yung pagsasabi ba ng under attack, yung pagsasabi ba ng lockdown ng Senado, lahat ito, lahat ng mga bagay na napatunayan na nangyari ay tinitignan para timbangin kung ito ay kabahagi ng tinatawag natin na obstruction of justice,” Vida added.
On May 11, operatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) tried to arrest Dela Rosa by virtue of an ICC arrest warrant. The effort however failed as NBI operatives were outhustled.
The fugitive senator was later placed under protective custody.
On the evening of May 13, a shooting incident erupted inside the senate building compelling a lockdown on the senate premises. Hours later, Dela Rosa slipped out of the Senate premises.
ACCOMPLICES
Vida earlier warned individuals who helped Dela Rosa escape after the ICC warrant was unsealed and made public on May 11 will be held criminally liable.
The DOJ special panel previously claimed that the actions of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms against the NBI was not justified, and that the Senate was not under attack — as claimed by then Senate President Cayetano.
“Based on the initial findings, the recommendations of the panel include: One, to identify and establish the culpability of all persons who conspired and aided the escape of Senator Dela Rosa in the early morning of 14 May 2026,” Vida further said.
“Second, to determine whether the NBI and media accounts that sniper shots appear to have been fired from the fifth floor of the Senate building towards an NBI vehicle was part of an orchestrated plan to help facilitate the escape of Senator Dela Rosa,” he added.
CRIME SCENE
The findings, he noted, were based on evidence submitted by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), members of the media, and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), including an ocular inspection at the GSIS premises.
Vida however admitted that the DOJ was not able to inspect the Senate premises as the Senate deferred action on its request, noting the ongoing investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman and the PNP.
According to Vida, the Senate also expressed concern about a possible conflict of interest as the NBI, which was involved in the incident, is under the DOJ.
