Manila: The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday said its records do not show that Senator Robinhood Padilla filed a counter affidavit in the obstruction of justice charges lodged against him in connection with the escape of Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa from the Senate in May.

According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano stated they welcome Padilla's claim that he had filed the document to give his side, but said no such record exists in their system. "Meron syang pinakita na isang counter affidavit, original pa po daw bagamat di po ito nag rereflect sa aming sistema (He showed the supposed original counter affidavit but it does not reflect on our record system)," Clavano said in a media interview.

He also clarified that the time to file a counter affidavit had already lapsed. 'So, we will rely on what our system says and we will take it from there,' he said.

Speaking at the ongoing Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Monday, Padilla denied reports from the Ombudsman that he failed to submit a counter affidavit. 'As of now, only Senator (Alan Peter) Cayetano's counter affidavit reflects in our system,' Clavano said.

Aside from Cayetano, dismissed Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca also submitted a counter affidavit, seeking more time to answer the charges. An Ombudsman decision on June 25 dismissed Aplasca following a shooting incident between Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms personnel and National Bureau of Investigation agents at the Senate building in Pasay City on May 13.