CCTV footage obtained by ABS-CBN News showed Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa leaving the Senate complex with Senator Robin Padilla hours after the May 13 gunfire incident inside the upper chamber.
The footage showed Dela Rosa wearing a jacket and cap while being accompanied by Padilla as they exited the building. Another clip showed a white Toyota Fortuner leaving the Senate premises shortly afterward. Authorities confirmed the SUV is registered under Padilla.
“This is the picture of the vehicle leaving, a Fortuner that belongs to Senator Robinhood Padilla… that is them getting away,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said during a Palace briefing.
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the footage showed Dela Rosa and Padilla heading toward the vehicle at around 2:30 a.m. on May 14.
According to authorities, a third individual identified only as “Jane Doe” was also seen with the senators and was described as an unidentified assistant. The group was reportedly heading toward the Makati area.
The videos were submitted by the PNP to the Department of Justice as part of the ongoing investigation into the Senate gunfire incident and Dela Rosa’s departure from the chamber.
“May timestamp naman lahat. It couldn’t have been spliced. Those were direct from the CCTV cameras from the Senate,” Remulla said.
Earlier, suspended acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca claimed some videos were allegedly spliced to support the narrative that the Senate was not under attack.
Padilla earlier declined to directly answer questions on whether he helped Dela Rosa leave the Senate premises, saying the matter is already under official investigation.
Dela Rosa had been staying under Senate protective custody after the International Criminal Court confirmed the existence of an arrest warrant against him over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
