The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang dispelled claims that the Senate was attacked by law enforcers, saying initial investigation showed there was no operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or the Philippine National Police (PNP) to assault the chamber or arrest Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. The clarification came after tensions and confusion gripped several members of the Senate majority bloc following reports of gunfire and the presence of armed law enforcement personnel near the Senate complex on Thursday. Led by newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, some members of the majority bloc took turns the other night in calling for prayers and support saying “we are under attack.” Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and retired police Major General Mao Aplasca fired the first “warning shot” that sparked the tension at the Senate building. She said the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) initiated the gunfire after personnel encountered NBI agents in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound, which is adjacent to the Senate. "No assault was committed by NBI agents at the Senate. And secondly, there is no operation by the NBI or PNP to arrest Senator Bato," Castro said in a press briefing. The NBI said that GSIS chief Wick Veloso had requested NBI agents to help secure the agency’s premises amid heightened security concerns. The Senate is renting a building inside the GSIS compound and is connected to the GSIS through a bridge, the key to which is held by the OSAA. Authorities said that about 30 shots were fired during the confrontation, with some bullets allegedly originating from inside the Senate premises. The Palace report likewise said Dela Rosa left the Senate building at around 2:30 a.m., although authorities have yet to validate his exact whereabouts following the incident. The clarification from Malacañang was issued to dissipate the impression circulating among some lawmakers and supporters that the Senate was under siege. The incident immediately drew condemnation from lawmakers, with Sen. Risa Hontiveros describing the violence as a desecration of the institution. “Unfortunately, the Senate, The People’s House, the hallowed space where laws are made and rights are defended, was turned into a shooting range. That is desecration, not just of our walls, but of the trust placed in that institution,” Hontiveros said. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian also denounced the incident and called for accountability from those involved. "I strongly condemn the shooting incident that occurred last night within the Senate premises," Gatchalian said. "It is unacceptable that the lives of Filipinos were put at risk inside the Senate itself, especially with fellow senators, Senate employees, and members of the media present in the building when the incident occurred.” Gatchalian said those behind the incident, including those who may have ordered it and their alleged accomplices, should immediately be identified and held accountable under the law. "The investigations being conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, PNP, and the Senate must proceed with urgency and be conducted in a credible and transparent manner,” he said. Government probers and political observers noted that confusion, heightened tensions and unverified reports circulating during the incident may have contributed to what critics described as a “panic reaction” among members of the majority bloc. Malacañang appealed for sobriety and restraint as investigations continue, warning against the spread of misinformation and premature conclusions that could further inflame political tensions.
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