Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Sen. Robinhood Padilla attends the  Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing  on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country at the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City on September 23, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SENATE PROBE- FLOOD CONTROL ANOMALIES

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177969438006820260525080528_9e4501baa1495567ffc6b9e8140652ecac546d2e869ed351c887800981a1216b.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Robinhood Padilla attends the  Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing  on the alleged anomalous flood control projects in the country at the Senate plenary hall in Pasay City on September 23, 2025<em>. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla on Monday defended his Deputy Chief of Staff, Jean Robles, following insinuations linking her to the departure of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa from the Senate premises during a tense incident last Thursday.</p><p>In a statement released Monday, Padilla said Robles was merely performing her official duties as part of his staff during the incident inside the Senate.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/20/cctv-shows-dela-rosa-padilla-leaving-senate-after-may-13-gunfire-1353"><strong>CCTV shows Dela Rosa, Padilla leaving Senate after May 13 gunfire</strong></a></div><p>“Colonel Jean Robles (Ret.) merely performed her official duties as part of my staff during the events that transpired inside the Senate. Any insinuation that she acted improperly or illegally is unfair, speculative, and irresponsible,” Sen. Padilla said. </p><p>The senator stressed that there was no lawful order or warrant of arrest issued by local courts preventing anyone from leaving the Senate premises at that time.</p><p>Padilla also clarified that Robles remained inside the Senate along with other staff members during the lockdown situation as part of operational and security coordination.</p><p>According to the senator, at around 2:30 a.m., Robles rode with him as he brought her home following the long hours spent at the Senate amid the overnight tension.</p><p>“Madaling-araw na iyon at matagal na rin kaming nasa Senado dahil sa sitwasyon. Nakisabay si Col. Robles at inihatid ko siya pauwi bilang pagtiyak na ligtas siyang makakauwi,” Sen. Padilla added.</p><div><strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/22/-wala-namang-humarang-sa-amin-padilla-says-dela-rosa-dropped-off-in-makati-after-senate-exit-1015">‘Wala namang humarang sa amin’: Padilla says Dela Rosa dropped off in Makati after Senate exit</a></strong></div><p>Padilla likewise denied attempts to link Robles to former President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Padilla said Robles served as an Army officer from 2002 to 2020 before later joining the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Foreign Service Officer.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/did-robin-padilla-help-bato-leave-senate-2030"><strong>Did Robin Padilla help Bato leave Senate?</strong></a></div><p>“Colonel Robles never personally served former President Rodrigo Duterte nor was she part of his personal staff. She served the Filipino people as an Army officer from 2002 until 2020 before later entering the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Foreign Service Officer,” he said.</p><p>The senator maintained that Robles acted professionally, in good faith, and within the scope of her responsibilities as his Deputy Chief of Staff.</p><p>Padilla also urged the public to be responsible in sharing information and to avoid “trial by publicity” against individuals merely carrying out their duties.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IT__LW5hnsk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEnajoW8ca0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The senator stressed that there was no lawful order or warrant of arrest issued by local courts preventing anyone from leaving the Senate premises at that time.</p>

The senator stressed that there was no lawful order or warrant of arrest issued by local courts preventing anyone from leaving the Senate premises at that time.

Padilla defends staff member linked to Bato’s departure from Senate

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Padilla defends staff member linked to Bato’s departure from Senate

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2026 03:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Robin Padilla

Bato Dela Rosa

Senate

Jean Robles

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