Senate secretary-general: 'Perceived' NBI agents entered Senate building

Supposed agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) allegedly entered the Senate building on Wednesday evening where Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is under protective custody – but the NBI denied that its personnel were deployed to the building amid the tensions there.

Senate Secretary-General Mark Llandro Mendoza told reporters that the “perceived” NBI agents allegedly went inside the Senate premises through the nearby building of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

At around 7 p.m., some armed men in uniform were observed at the upper chamber’s premises following the Senate’s adjournment of the plenary session.

The Senate was placed under lockdown shortly after this.

Gunshots were heard at the Senate hallway at around 7:30 p.m. as members of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, including Acting OSAA Mao Aplasca, were seen wearing bullet-proof vests.

“Sila nauna magpaputok (They were the ones who opened fire first),” Mendoza alleged.

“Wala pa kaming assessment kung may tinamaan o wala kasi madilim sa area pero at least sa side natin, wala,” he said. “Contained naman ang area. We’re all safe here.”

(We have no assessment yet if anyone was hit because it was dark, but at least on our side, there’s none. The area has been contained. We’re all safe here.)

Mendoza said the alleged entry of the supposed NBI agents was not coordinated with the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).

“May criminal liability sila pagpasok nila sa Senate. Unang-una nag-assault sila dito eh. In-endanger nila lahat ng tao sa Senado,” he said.

(They have criminal liability in entering the Senate. They are the ones assaulting us. They are endangering everyone at the Senate.)

As of posting time, people – including members of the media – are being evacuated from the Senate building.

Sought for comment, Matibag said there were no agents deployed at the Senate building following the gunshots heard at the upper chamber’s premises.

Matibag said NBI officials are currently in a three-day fellowship event in a hotel.

He said Senator Loren Legarda called him about dispersing NBI agents from the Senate premises.

“Nakatanggap ako ng tawag kay Senator Loren na paalisin ko raw ‘yung mga agent ng NBI. Sabi ko, ‘Wala kaming agent diyan.’ Wala naman po talaga, kasi daw nagpaputok. Sabi ko pa-imbestigahan niyo, pa-huli niyo yung mga nagpapaputok. Dahil sigurado ako na wala kaming tao na nandiyan sa loob ng Senado,” he told GMA News.

(I received a call from Senator Loren telling me to pull out the NBI agents. I said, ‘We don’t have any agents there.’ There really were none, but she said someone had fired shots. I told her to have it investigated and have those who fired the shots arrested. Because I am certain that none of our people are inside the Senate.)

Gunshots rang out at the Senate on Wednesday evening amid an ongoing lockdown at the upper chamber, where Dela Rosa is under the Senate’s protective custody.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. have already arrived at the Senate.

Remulla said no one was reported hurt from the tension.

“Inuutusan nila ako, ‘Pumunta ka rito, mag-imbestiga ka.’ Ang problema po ay napapagbintangan kami na kami ang nagpaputok, paano naman kami pupunta, baka masubo naman ‘yung aming mga ahente,” Matibag said.

(They are ordering me, ‘Come here and investigate.’ The problem is we are being accused of being the ones who fired the shots, how can we go there? Our agents might be put in a compromising or dangerous position.)

“Ang sabi ko nga po, there will be an inter-agency collaboration, may meeting pa, bago pa magkaroon ng desisyon kung mag-i-implement ng warrant,” the NBI director added.

(As I said, there will be an inter-agency collaboration – there is still a meeting – before a decision is made on whether to implement the warrant.)

“Kausap ko lang si Secretary Vida, ang sinasabi niya sa akin, ‘Maghintay tayo ng instruction, wala tayong gagawin.’”

(I just spoke with Secretary Vida, and she told me, ‘Let’s wait for instructions; we aren’t doing anything yet.)

The tension at the Senate developed after the Supreme Court (SC) did not issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) sought by Dela Rosa, who is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). — JMA, GMA News