THE Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed on Thursday that it is still gathering evidence and building its case against individuals suspected of helping facilitate the alleged escape of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa during the incident at the Senate in May 2026.
Justice Undersecretary Ian Norman Dato, who leads the department’s Law Enforcement Cluster, stated that the panel of prosecutors assigned to the probe remains actively engaged in verifying facts and identifying potential criminal liability.
As part of its investigation, the team conducted an ocular inspection of the Senate premises last June 30 to better understand the sequence of events and assess the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to Dato, investigators are looking closely at all angles, including the possible involvement of persons who may have provided assistance or arranged the senator’s departure. He emphasized that the process is still ongoing, and the panel has not yet gathered enough evidence to determine if there was a pre-planned scheme to aid Dela Rosa.
In the meantime, the DOJ clarified that the obstruction of justice complaint previously filed by the Philippine National Police‑Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP‑CIDG) has not yet been resubmitted.
The complaint was earlier sent back to the police for further strengthening, in line with Department Circular No. 20, which allows prosecutors to guide law enforcers in completing their evidence. Dato noted that the department will wait for the panel to finish its full review before making any official findings or recommendations public.
metrosundaily
