MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Robin Padilla, and former Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca to answer the obstruction of justice complaint filed against them by Tindig Pilipinas in early June.

The Ombudsman’s Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication, and Monitoring Office (PAMO), in an order dated June 23, gave the three respondents 15 days to file their counter-affidavits to the complaint of Tindig Pillipinas, which accused them of impeding the serving of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant to Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in May.

Under Presidential Decree No. 1829, obstruction of justice is punishable by between four to six years imprisonment, fines, and perpetual disqualification from public office.

The Ombudsman reminded the respondents that they are also expected to submit controverting evidence to the PAMO and to furnish copies to Tindig Pilipinas.

“If the respondents do not file their counter-affidavits within the reglementary period despite due notice, or cannot be served with or refuses to receive this order…the complaint shall be deemed submitted for resolution and no further pleadings or documents shall be entertained,” the Ombudsman said.

Upon receipt of the counter-affidavit of the respondents, Tindig Pilipinas has five days to file its reply-affidavit to the counter-affidavit of the three individuals.

Tindig Pilipinas had accused Cayetano, who was then the newly-elected Senate president, of preventing National Bureau of Investigation agents from taking custody of Dela Rosa by virtue of the ICC warrant. The group cited his earlier pronouncement that Dela Rosa was under the Senate’s protective custody, and his insistence that the ICC warrant must be first affirmed by a Philippine court.

Tindig Pilipinas alleged in its complaint that Cayetano’s moves were intended to block the arrest of Dela Rosa, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s co-accused in the crimes against humanity case before the ICC. Aplasca, meanwhile, allegedly created the distraction — the shooting incident — that caused a commotion within the Senate premises.

Padilla was included in the complaint based on his own admission that he let Dela Rosa — the subject of an arrest warrant — ride with him in his vehicle to leave the Senate premises. – Rappler.com