NBI to conduct its own probe on 'Senate standoff'

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Wednesday said they will conduct their own investigation on the incident involving the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), following the attempt to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Matibag said the NBI will not hesitate to discipline its agents. However, he said that no physical altercation took place.

“We will conduct our own fact-finding… So kung ano po ‘yung lumabas, ‘yun po ang magiging direksyon natin. Kung meron pong nagkamali doon sa ating mga ahente ng NBI, medyo nasobrahan po… we will not hesitate also to discipline our ranks,” he said.

(We will conduct our own fact-finding… So whatever comes out, that will be our direction. If there were mistakes committed by our NBI agents, if they somewhat went overboard… we will also not hesitate to discipline our ranks.)

On Monday, a standoff erupted between members of OSAA and the NBI after the agents who were earlier cited in contempt tried to leave the chamber.

According to Matibag, the NBI agents believed that the OSAA personnel were trying to detain them illegally.

“Syempre po ang NBI law enforcement, ang tendency niyan may interpretation siya na you are trying to detain us illegally, so aarestuhin ka namin. Ikaw ang dadalhin namin para imbestigahan ka,” he said.

(Of course, the NBI is law enforcement, and the tendency there is that they may interpret it as you are trying to detain us illegally, so we will arrest you. You will be the one we bring in for investigation.)

“Tapos nung nakawala, nag pumiglas, tumatakbo, nadapa po sa hagdanan. Wala naman po nangyaring panuntok,” he added.

(Then when he got away, broke free, and ran, he fell on the stairs. There was no punching that happened.)

Meanwhile, Matibag said they will consult the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further action on the ICC warrant.

The ICC issued a warrant for Dela Rosa for the crime against humanity of murder, at least between July 2016 and the end of April 28, during which no less than 32 individuals were kliled in the Philippines.

Dela Rosa is currently under protective custody of the Senate. He has appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to surrender him to the Hague. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA News