NBI driver in Senate shooting faces multiple charges — PNP

A driver employed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who was involved in the shooting incident at the Senate complex in Pasay City has been charged with multiple offenses, the Philippine National Police Southern Police District (SPD) said Monday.

In an interview, SPD spokesperson Police Lieutenant Margaret Panaga said the suspect, who remains under the custody of the Pasay City Police, is facing complaints for:

• violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act
• alarm and scandal
• tumults and other disturbances of public order
• resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or an agent of a person in authority
• disturbance of proceedings
• trespass to property
• violation of Senate security regulations
• direct assault

Panaga said the suspect underwent a paraffin test and yielded positive results for powder nitrates, but clarified that the finding does not conclusively prove he fired a gun.

Investigators are still determining the circumstances behind the positive test result, she added.

Panaga also said authorities have yet to determine whether other law enforcement personnel and Senate security officers involved in the incident have undergone or will undergo paraffin testing to establish possible firearm discharge.

Recovered from the NBI driver were:

• 30 rounds of 5.56 caliber live ammunition
• one long magazine loaded with 26 rounds of 5.56 caliber ammunition
• one short magazine loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition
• a blue jacket bearing NBI markings
• a black polo shirt with an NBI logo and badge
• a brown sling bag

The NBI driver was arrested after multiple gunshots were heard inside the Senate complex on Wednesday night.

The suspect, identified only by the alias “Mel Oragon,” was described in a police report as a 44-year-old Filipino male employed as an NBI driver.

Malacañang earlier said Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and retired Police Major General Mao Aplasca fired the first warning shot during the incident.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said personnel from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms fired 27 shots, while an NBI agent fired five shots.

Aplasca, for his part, said Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms personnel first issued a verbal warning before shots were fired.—MCG, GMA News