Marcos wants Senate incident probe to be ‘truthful, impartial’

The situation in the Senate on May 13 (Photo by Dhel Nazario/Manila Bulletin)

President Marcos ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that the investigation into the alleged shootout in the Senate would be truthful and impartial.

Marcos made the directive during a meeting with NBI Director Melvin Matibag and PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez on Thursday morning, May 14, following the incident in the Senate on Wednesday night.

“Opo, meron po kaming pagpupulong. Nagkaroon po ng pag-uulat sa nangyari po kahapon (Yes, we had a meeting. We presented a report regarding what happened yesterday),” Matibag said in a Palace briefing.

According to the NBI chief, the President told them: “Siguraduhin na ang imbestigasyon ay makatotohanan at parehas at lumabas kung sino talaga ang mga may pagkukulang at kung ano talaga ang mga may pananagutan at siguraduhing tawagin at panagutin ang mga taong may dapat pananagutan sa pangyayari pong ito (Ensure that the investigation is truthful and impartial, and that it reveals who truly failed in their duties and who should be held accountable. Make sure that those responsible for this incident are identified and held accountable),” Matibag said.

No assault, no arrest

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro reiterated that no government entity ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who is now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

Castro added that there was also no assault, contradicting claims from some senators that they were under attack.

“Gusto nating linawin, una, walang assault na ginawa ang NBI agents sa Senado; at pangalawa, walang operasyon ang NBI o PNP na arestuhin si Senator Bato (We want to make it clear: first, the NBI agents committed no assault at the Senate; and second, there was no operation by the NBI or the PNP to arrest Senator Bato),” Castro said.

In a briefing, Castro also revealed that Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) General Manager Wick Veloso asked the NBI for assistance in securing the bridge connecting the GSIS and the Senate offices.

It was the reason NBI agents were sent to the GSIS premises at around 6 p.m., Castro said.

OSAA fired the first warning shot

Castro revealed that the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) fired the first warning shots, prompting the NBI agents to return fire.

Castro also disclosed that before the gunshots, NBI agents noticed that the OSAA personnel were already geared up, wearing vests and preparing for an operation.

“Pagdating sa bridge sa GSIS premises, tinanong ng OSAA ang NBI agent na nakaupo lamang kasama nga ang isang blue guard ng GSIS (Upon reaching the bridge at the GSIS premises, the OSAA questioned the NBI agent who was simply seated there together with a GSIS blue guard),” the Palace official said.

“Nagpakilala na NBI agents at noong nagsabi sila ng kanilang pagkakakilanlan, agad nagpaputok ng warning shot si Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca. At dahil doon, napilitan ding magpaputok ng warning shot ang NBI agent (The agents identified themselves as NBI personnel, and when they stated their identities, Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca immediately fired a warning shot. Because of that, the NBI agent was also compelled to fire a warning shot),” Castro said.

Concluding the press briefing, Castro stated there would be no cover-up in the investigation.

“Tandaan po natin, ang bagong Pilipino ay para sa katotohanan at hindi para sa pagco-cover up (Let us remember: the new Filipino is for truth, not for cover-ups),” she said. — Betheena Unite