The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday confirmed the issuance of subpoenas to Sen. Robinhood Padilla and his chief of staff, retired Lt. Col. Jean Alla Yasin Robles, regarding a complaint alleging obstruction of justice.

Justice Undersecretary Ian Dato said a National Prosecution Service panel issued the subpoenas 11 September, directing the respondents to present counter-affidavits and evidence.

Preliminary investigation hearings are scheduled for 25 September and 9 October at 2 p.m. at the DoJ headquarters in Manila.

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed the complaint under Presidential Decree 1829, which penalizes obstruction of the apprehension and prosecution of criminal offenders.

The case stems from allegations that Padilla and others assisted former police chief and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in exiting the Senate premises on 14 May as authorities sought to serve an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Padilla has maintained that Dela Rosa merely hitched a ride in his vehicle and denies aiding an escape.

Dato addressed Padilla’s public remarks expressing feelings of discrimination, clarifying that the DoJ is legally obligated to act on law enforcement complaints. He stressed that issuing a subpoena does not constitute a finding of guilt or establish a prima facie case, but rather affords the respondents a formal opportunity to respond.

He added that the DoJ proceeding operates independently from ICC matters and will be resolved strictly on local legal merits and warned that failing to appear at the scheduled hearings would be treated as a waiver of the right to present a defense, allowing prosecutors to resolve the case based on existing evidence.