Gatchalian orders Senate lockdown, heightened security amid 'critical' NBI threat

The Manila Times

Gatchalian orders Senate lockdown, heightened security amid 'critical' NBI threat

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Senate President Sherwin T. Gatchalian has ordered an immediate, indefinite lockdown and the implementation of heightened security measures at the Senatefollowing a "critical" intelligence report from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detailing plans to disrupt legislative proceedings. In a memorandum issued Tuesday, Gatchalian instituted a strict "temporary no-visitor policy" and mobilized severe protective protocols to safeguard lawmakers, staff, and institutional records from what was described as a credible threat to destabilize the upper chamber. Credible threat to legislative operations According to the memorandum, the NBI alerted the Office of the Acting Senate President on Monday, regarding "critical information about a security threat." The intelligence indicated active "plans, attempts, or circumstances" aimed at disrupting the orderly conduct of Senate proceedings, compromising the safety of the Senate community, and targeting Senate facilities and official records. Invoking Rule III, Sections 3(e) and (f) of the Rules of the Senate—which vests the Senate leadership with general control and the duty to maintain order within the institution—Gatchalian declared the sweeping security upgrade necessary "to preserve institutional stability" and ensure "the uninterrupted discharge of legislative duties." The most immediate impact of the directive is a total freeze on outside access to the Senate premises. Under the newly enforced Temporary No-Visitor Policy, the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) has been ordered to deny entry to all external guests.

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