Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa – Photo courtesy of Bato Dela Rosa/Facebook.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now zeroing in on the wheels behind Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s controversial exit from the Senate, tapping transport agencies to trace vehicles allegedly used in the operation.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Nartatez said investigators were mapping out the roles of drivers, security escorts, and even vehicle owners believed to have helped move the senator out of the premises.
The probe has expanded beyond personalities to include the convoy itself, with authorities digging into registration records and travel patterns of cars linked to the incident.
Police are building what Nartatez described as a tight case against individuals who may have played a part in the escape, with instructions to ensure charges will hold up in court.
The development followed moves by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to elevate complaints before the Department of Justice, naming Sen. Robin Padilla and others in a possible obstruction of justice case.
Dela Rosa’s departure happened in the early hours of May 14, shortly after a shooting inside the Senate complex, with Padilla confirming the embattled senator rode with him before switching vehicles in Makati.
Padilla insisted it was a simple ride request, but investigators are not buying it, pointing instead to a coordinated handoff that suggested planning and execution designed to avoid detection.
Authorities warned that anyone caught aiding an individual evading arrest, regardless of status, would face legal consequences as the probe widens.
Dela Rosa remains under the radar of the International Criminal Court over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s drug war. After the Supreme Court cleared the way, the Department of Justice has ordered law enforcers to implement the arrest warrant.
