THE Department of Justice says the obstruction of justice complaint filed by the PNP against those who allegedly helped Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa avoid arrest is moving forward to preliminary investigation.
Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Evaristo Dato disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday, noting that the complaint was formally filed with the Department of Justice on August 11 and is currently undergoing formal evaluation to determine if it holds sufficient legal and factual basis to move ahead.
Dato clarified that he could not yet disclose the identities of those named in the complaint, emphasizing that no subpoenas have been issued and that it would be premature to identify any respondents publicly. “Before confirming or sharing any names, it would be inappropriate for me because no subpoenas have been issued yet,” Dato explained. He stressed that the evaluation process is still underway to verify whether the evidence submitted is enough to formally require the accused to answer the allegations against them.
The Justice Undersecretary further confirmed that the case is being handled in accordance with Department Circular No. 20, which governs the procedures for complaints filed by law enforcement agencies. He noted that there had been an exchange of communications between the DOJ and the PNP, leading to a determination that there may be sufficient basis to proceed to preliminary investigation. This procedural milestone means the DOJ is satisfied that the complaint meets the threshold to move forward, though formal legal processes have not yet been fully set in motion.
Once the complaint officially advances to the preliminary investigation stage, the Department of Justice will issue subpoenas to the named respondents, requiring them to file formal answers and appear before designated prosecutors to respond to the charges. Dato emphasized that the DOJ intends to follow due process carefully and does not wish to “jump the gun” on any individual, ensuring that all parties are accorded their legal rights and given fair notice of the allegations once the process is formally underway.
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