AKBAYAN Partylist, through Representative Perci Cendaña, issued a strong statement Thursday condemning the Senate leadership, following reports that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had left the Senate premises hours after a night of lockdown, gunfire, and security chaos.
According to Cendaña, the Senate itself is destroying its credibility and purpose, because instead of peacefully surrendering a person facing a valid arrest warrant, leaders chose to turn the upper chamber into a safe haven to help him evade law enforcement.
He emphasized that the core duty of the Senate is to make laws and uphold justice — not to break, bend, or disregard them for political convenience. By protecting Dela Rosa for days and facilitating his eventual departure, Cendaña said the leadership openly disrespected the legal framework they swore to defend.
Cendaña questioned the very nature of the current Senate leadership, whose priority, he said, appears to be helping a wanted man avoid arrest rather than serving the public interest.
“What kind of Senate leadership makes its top priority helping someone avoid arrest — especially someone who is WANTED for crimes against humanity, and effectively an international fugitive?” Cendaña asked. He described this as abuse of power and betrayal of public trust, noting that Dela Rosa is not facing minor charges but grave accusations tied to the previous administration’s war on drugs, where thousands were killed without due process. Instead of cooperating with authorities and respecting due process, he said Senate leaders turned the institution into a fortress, putting political loyalty far above accountability and the rule of law.
The Akbayan lawmaker stressed that Senate leaders owe a direct, honest explanation — not just to the Filipino people, but most especially to the widows, orphans, and families of victims of extrajudicial killings.
According to him, livestreams, press releases, and weak excuses invoking sovereignty or parliamentary immunity are not enough. For years, these families have waited for justice, yet every move to protect those accused of these crimes only prolongs their suffering. Cendaña said the situation reinforces a painful reality felt by many: in this country, powerful figures can act with total impunity, while ordinary citizens and victims are left with no real recourse and no true closure.
For Akbayan, the entire sequence of events proves exactly why Dela Rosa must be made to answer before the International Criminal Court.
Cendaña argued that there is no longer any hope of genuine justice within the Philippine system for victims of Oplan Tokhang, because even institutions designed to uphold the law have become part of the problem. He went so far as to say that by assisting and enabling Dela Rosa’s evasion, the Senate has effectively become an accessory to the crimes he is accused of committing — making lawmakers accomplices in shielding suspects and obstructing justice.
Cendaña warned that this chapter will remain a dark stain on the history of the legislature, and serves as a serious reminder: without independent institutions committed to accountability, democracy itself is placed in grave danger.
