PNP-CIDG refiles obstruction case against individuals connected to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, but the Department of Justice (DOJ) is keeping the details close to the chest.
DOJ declines to identify respondents
Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato confirmed on Thursday that a complaint was filed last Aug. 11. The case, re-filed by the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), targets those allegedly involved in helping Dela Rosa evade arrest. However, Dato declined to identify the respondents or confirm if Senator Robin Padilla remains among them.
The case is currently under evaluation by the DOJ to determine if there is sufficient basis to proceed with a preliminary investigation. Dato explained that the DOJ does not want to identify respondents prematurely, noting that subpoenas have yet to be issued.
“So before confirming or sharing any names, it would be inappropriate for me because no subpoenas have been issued yet,” Dato said.
He also stated that he is not aware of any additional names included in the refiled complaint, other than what has been relayed to him about the Aug. 11 filing.
Legal mechanism cited for delay
Dato cited DOJ Department Circular No. 20 as the basis for the current process. This circular requires coordination and exchanges between prosecutors and law enforcement agencies before a complaint can proceed to a preliminary investigation.
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The complaint alleges that Padilla and others facilitated the alleged escape of Dela Rosa after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
The DOJ previously referred the original complaint back to the CIDG for further investigation after prosecutors sought additional evidence and statements. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that the original complaint was returned to the CIDG under the same circular.
For those involved in high-profile legal battles, the gap between filing a complaint and issuing subpoenas can be a waiting game. Prosecutors must meticulously review the evidence to ensure that every procedural step is followed, which sometimes creates a window of uncertainty for public figures named in the allegations.
The latest filing now awaits DOJ evaluation to determine if it has sufficient basis to proceed to a formal preliminary investigation.
The DOJ press briefing clarified that the coordination process involves an exchange of information between the DOJ and the law enforcement agency before they reach an assessment that there might be sufficient basis to proceed with a preliminary investigation. Dato emphasized that the DOJ has not issued subpoenas and does not want to “jump the gun” on any respondent.
Reporters repeatedly asked whether Padilla, who was named as a “respondent” in the original complaint, was included in the refiled case. Dato reiterated that the matter remains under evaluation, stating that it would be inappropriate to announce names before the legal documents are fully processed. He further clarified that he is not aware of any new names beyond the initial filing date of Aug. 11.
