How NBI agents chased Bato dela Rosa at the Senate

The agents who ran after Senator Bato dela Rosa and were later cited in contempt by the Senate will remain in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

According to Ian Cruz’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, a vehicle carrying Dela Rosa arrived at the Senate’s ground floor parking area at past 3 p.m., just as the quorum bell was ringing.

The Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) said the senator headed straight through the hallway toward the stairs leading to the Session Hall.

“Initially, General Bato was just walking, but when they noticed that someone was already pursuing them, that's when they started to run,” said newly-appointed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, a former major general of the Philippine National Police.

Dela Rosa managed to evade the pursuing NBI agents, who were attempting to serve an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with his alleged involvement in the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The senator was able to reach the Session Hall, albeit with an injury on his left hand.

“When I went downstairs, NBI agents were already waiting; they blocked me and tried to stop me from going up. So, I ended up wrestling with them because the roll call was starting,” said Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa has been placed under the protective custody of the Senate following a motion by Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

The lawmakers also upheld Senator Joel Villanueva's motion to cite the NBI agents who pursued Dela Rosa in contempt. To identify them, newly-installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano immediately ordered a lockdown of the Senate premises.

According to a report submitted to Cayetano by the outgoing Sergeant-at-Arms, NBI-National Capital Region chief Atty. Emeterio Dongallo had coordinated with his office as early as past seven in the morning regarding an arrest warrant.

“As per agreement the supposed arrest should be effected when the warrant of arrest is presented as per guidance of the former Senate President Vicente C. Sotto,” said Cayetano.

According to the report, the warrant was allegedly shown to then-Senate President Sotto. But Sotto stated that he was unaware that Dela Rosa would be showing up at the Senate that day.

“Little did I know that Senator Dela Rosa after seven months of not being here, will suddenly come. If I had known that he was coming, if you informed me that he was coming, I would have a different perspective,” said Sotto.

“When I said, coordinate with OSAA, they know the rules, ‘yun pa ang binanggit ko (that was what I remarked),” he added.

While the Senate was under lockdown, a commotion erupted in front of the building's lobby. A member of OSAA was injured after reportedly being blocked by NBI personnel who were attempting to exit the building around 7:30 last night.

“He’s still confined in Makati Med, we’re still getting the medical bulletin. But as of last night, I think he’s in a stable condition,” said Aplasca.

Around 10 p.m. last night, Senate President Cayetano and NBI Director Melvin Matibag reached an agreement that the NBI would recognize the Senate's protective custody of Dela Rosa, despite the standing ICC arrest warrant.

Meanwhile, the agents who pursued Dela Rosa will remain in the custody of the NBI, notwithstanding the Senate's contempt citation against them.

“The Senate President agreed that all those NBI agents in contempt will be under our custody,” said Matibag.

The nine NBI personnel were permitted to leave the Senate premises.

“Anytime the Senate needs their presence, the NBI will present them,” said Aplasca.

Currently, the OSAA continues to investigate which of the agents are liable, according to their new chief, who also served as the Sergeant-at-Arms under former Senate President Chiz Escudero.

Dela Rosa’s camp is currently reviewing legal actions to be filed against the individuals who attempted to arrest him.

“We are discussing about it, but as to whether or not we will continue to do that, under consideration pa po yan,” said lawyer Israelito Torreon.

The elevated alert status at the Senate remains in effect until further notice. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA News