Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday said he was happy for former senator Leila De Lima who has finally stepped out from jail following a court decision granting her to post bail.

"Masaya ako para sa kanya dahil one soul that is freed from detention, masaya ako para sa aking kapwa tao. As I have said, I respect the court decisions as I always also observe separation of powers. Respetuhin natin kung ano ang desisyon ng korte," Dela Rosa told reporters in an interview.

Dela Rosa, who was the former chief of the Philippine National Police when De Lima was imprisoned over narcotics-related charges, lamented that he had already anticipated the situation.

"I cannot really say with certainty na mahina ang kaso because it withstood the time of President Duterte's term and after his term, ito na ngayon… dahan-dahang nadi-dismiss so hindi ko masabi. Does it mean na malakas siya noon tapos ngayon humina na? Hindi naman siguro because the facts are the same, the circumstances are still the same," said Dela Rosa.

"Expected ko na yan at naging trend naman talaga yan dito sa Pilipinas… kapag yung administrasyon nag-file ng kaso, 'pag napalitan yung administrasyon, tila humihina yung kaso, parang ganon ang napapansin ko," he continued.

After undergoing a medical and physical examination, De Lima was released from a custodial facility inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

"After six years, eight months, and 24 days, sweet, sweet freedom. Thank you, Lord," de Lima uttered upon her release.

During the interview, Dela Rosa was asked if De Lima's release was politically influenced.

He responded: "Tanungin mo ang korte kasi sila nag may hawak ng kaso…mahirap na ako ang magsabi, tanungin mo ang korte bakit (nila) grinant ang bail, may kulay ba ng pulitika? Sila ang tanungin ninyo, Bakit noon panahon ni President Duterte hindi n'yo grinant yan? ngayon iba na ang Presidente, grinant ninyo?."

"Does that mean that yung facts of the case during the Duterte administration are different sa facts of the case ngayong panahon na ng ibang presidente na, hindi naman siguro. Baka sabihin nila sa inyo na pinag-aralan naming mabuti yan at ngayon lang namin na-realized na dapat pala talagang i-grant yung bail sa kanya, baka ganon ang sabihin nila sa inyo," he added.

De Lima was arrested in February 2017 for illegal drug charges, including her alleged agreement with New Bilibid Prison inmates to sell and trade illegal drugs to fund her 2016 senatorial bid.