He was holed up there for three nights.
In his press briefing on Thursday, May 14, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed that he has received a report from Senator Jinggoy Estrada that Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa is indeed no longer within the premises of the Senate.
“So tinawagan ako ni Senator Jinggoy nang around 1:27 (pm today) to tell that he doesn’t think that Senator Bato is inside the building,” he recalled.
“So I checked and asked my chief-of-staff to ask the Sergeant-at-Arms for a report. So may spot report (na) pala talaga siya,” Cayetano added.
The new Senate leader also disclosed that he has spoken to Dela Rosa’s wife, who told him and the rest of the majority block to “not waste the sacrifice” of the politician, who is facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“In behalf of my family, we would like to thank you and all the senators for all the work you’ve done for my husband,” Cayetano read out the message that was sent to him. “At the same time, I’d also like to ask for forgiveness for all the confusion and havoc it has created in the Senate.”
“It is for this reason that Ronald made his ‘escape’. He told me that habang nandiyan siya sa loob, mas nadadamay pa kayo. Alam naming hindi lulusubin ng NBI, CIDG, at pulis o sino pang militar ang Senate kung wala siya sa loob.”
“Kaya kahit na gaano siya ka-safe diyan, mas nangibabaw pa rin para sa kanya ang safety ng lahat,” Senator Dela Rosa’s wife furthered.
She also noted her talk with her husband following the incident on Wednesday evening. “Nung umalis ako ng Senate, 9:00 pm, para umuwi kami sa bahay, last naming napag-usapan (na) diyan muna siya magstay-put,” citing that it will be safer for him due to the 72-hour period given by the Supreme Court for the government to respond to his urgent manifestation.
“Nagulat at natakot na lang kami for his safety nung narinig namin na nasa labas na siya. Wala sa plano, but knowing him, he took the opportunity noong nagkaputukan na.”
Cayetano then noted that he, along with another senators, received an assurance from National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Atty. Melvin Matibag that they will be furnished a copy of the official warrant.
The Senate then noted then that they will transfer the custody of the nine NBI personnel who were cited in contempt, which they have since foregone the custody of. The SP said that they are also awaiting a report on the incident, which the NBI has yet to submit.
SENATE STANDOFF
Meanwhile, in the same address, he also noted the events on Wednesday night and noted that they are in coordination with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla for the investigation.
He also denied reports that shots came from his personnel, with Cayetano noting that his security team from the Philippine National Police (PNP) did not fire their guns.
The SP then noted that Remulla said 27 bullets came from inside the Senate and five from the other side.
Cayetano then claimed that the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) made a verbal warning after the other side allegedly attempted to enter the building, triggering a warning shot from the Senate camp.
Remulla also messaged him to disclose that there were no warrants to be served that evening.
“We can get to the truth if people tell the truth. But if the NBI is not going to tell the truth, may problema tayo,” he said after reading the text.
Cayetano also addressed the speculation of the entire event as a mere “diversionary tactic” formulated by him and Bato to get out of the compound.
When asked about whether he still believes that what occurred was an “attack” on the Senate.
He first compared it to domestic intrusions and said, “Kung tututukan kita ng baril, papasukin ko bahay mo na may baril ako. Nag-warning shot ka, (pero) pinutukan kita pabalik. Isn’t that an attack?”
Cayetano then pounded the podium and continued, “But I don’t think there is any question (that) the Senate was under attack!”
“All of you, your lives were endangered last night,” he pointed to reporters. “I know it’s your job to ask a question, but you tell me kapag may nagpapaputok (ng warning shot) hindi na agad under attack ‘yon?!”
GUNFIGHT NOT A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC
“If it was a diversionary tactic, it would be crazy… When you did that, lalong dumami ‘yung tao dito, ‘yung pulis,” he told. “That’s why si Sec. Jonvic wanted to go upstairs to make sure he’s okay.”
He also claimed that there is no warrant for Bato, who is currently part of the wantes persons list of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for being an “indirect co-perpetrator” in the crimes against humanity case involving the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Senate President said this as he told that the senator decided to hole up inside the building after NBI agents came after him before proceeding to the plenary session on May 11, which was Dela Rosa’s first appearance in six months and also coincided with the unsealing of his ICC arrest warrant.
But Cayetano clarified, “I’m not saying as a fact na walang warrant, they (authorities) did not present the warrant to us and I’m waiting for it, but they did not give us. If they gave me the warrant, my advice could have been different.”
The SP also said that he also personally told Bato to attend the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
At present, there is still no information about the whereabouts of Dela Rosa.
