Padilla to Marcos: If Putin comes to PH, will you hand him to ICC too?

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Robinhood Padilla on Thursday compared allegations that he helped former senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa evade authorities with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s invitation to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Speaking during an Iglesia ni Cristo rally in Manila, Padilla questioned whether the government would also surrender Putin to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he visits the Philippines.

Padilla said he saw on social media allegations that he could face an obstruction of justice complaint for supposedly helping former senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade authorities over an ICC arrest warrant for his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s deadly war on drugs.

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“Look, they say there’s an ICC warrant. Yet our President is inviting Putin to the Philippines. But Putin has an arrest warrant from the ICC,” Padilla said in Filipino.

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READ: Marcos invites Putin to finally visit Manila

“What charges could they possibly file against the President? What are you saying, that if Vladimir Putin comes here, you’ll surrender him too? Filipinos are the only ones you’re willing to surrender,” he went on.

Last month, Marcos invited Putin to attend the East Asia Summit in Manila in November during their bilateral meeting in Kazan, Russia.

Putin is the subject of an ICC arrest warrant since March 17, 2023 for his alleged responsibility in the war crime of unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.

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READ: PNP: Obstruction raps vs Padilla unaffected by returned complaint

Moreover, the senator also addressed allegations that he helped dela Rosa evade authorities.

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Padilla was the subject of an obstruction of justice complaint filed last May by the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group over allegations that he helped dela Rosa evade authorities.

While the Department of Justice returned the complaint to the PNP due to lacking documents, the police earlier said the case remains pending and would be refiled once the deficiencies are addressed.

“They’re accusing me of obstruction of justice. Did you see the CCTV footage? Did it look like Bato was escaping?” Padilla said in Filipino.

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Padilla maintained that Dela Rosa did not flee as no police stopped them. /jpv