DILG chief Jonvic Remulla: 'Bato Dela Rosa is safe' amid Senate tension

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is “safe” and with security personnel following the tension and lockdown at the Senate building.

“Senator Bato dela Rosa has been informed that we are doing a sweep of the building. He has informed us that he wants to rest in his chambers. He is safe. He is with the security personnel. He has been informed of our activities,” Remulla told reporters.

“We have assured him that there is no warrant of arrest to be served. I am here to ensure the integrity of the Senate and the protection of all the senators,” he added.

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

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).

Remulla said they are still investigating the identities of those who fired the shots.

“We still have to determine through CCTV footage kung ilan talaga sila (as to how many there really are),” he said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said an investigation of the incident is also ongoing.

“We agreed on an objective, comprehensive investigation. I expressed to the President, who was a senator before he became the president, to Sec. Remulla, of course, the safety of my colleagues is very important, but ‘yung integrity din ng Senado (but the integrity of the Senate). The building is more than a building… It represents the democracy of our country,” Cayetano said.

Authorities are also conducting a sweep of the Senate buildings.

“The OSAA and the PNP, under the direction of myself and Sec. Remulla, is now going floor-by-floor and will do the same sa kabilang building. We won’t say any more operation details,” Cayetano added. — JMA, GMA News