Jonvic Remulla at Senate amid lockdown, wants to secure senators

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Jonvic Remulla arrived at the Senate amid the Senate lockdown, during which gunshots were heard.

Remulla said that he has asked Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to allow him and 30 police officers "to secure the senators."

“I will not arrest Senator Bato, just to be clear. I’m not here to arrest him,” Remulla told reporters.

Dela Rosa has been placed under the protective custody of the Senate after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

Remulla said that no one was hurt and all the senators are inside the Senate premises.

“As of now, the perpetrators are not identified. I gave the following instructions: No. 1, secure the CCTV room, nothing is to be touched," Remulla said.

"No.2, I asked the Senate President to allow me to enter with General Aberin with 30 policemen to secure the senators, that is my number one priority, to secure the senators,” he added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, said that more or less 1,500 police personnel remain deployed in the Senate area.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez arrived at the Senate after receiving a message from the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

“Mga two hours ago, tumawag sa akin ang sergeant-at-arms asking for police security at mag-imbestiga kung anong meron,” he told reporters. –NB, GMA News