Marcos denies order to arrest Bato Dela Rosa, says no gov't role in Senate shooting

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. said on Wednesday night that there was no instruction to arrest Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, who is the subject of a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court in connection with the killings under the Duterte administration's war on drugs.

In a video message, Marcos also called for calm after shots were heard during a lockdown of the Senate premises earlier, saying government forces had no role in the shooting.

He said an investigation by both the Philippine National Police and the Senate would be conducted to find out if the incident was an encounter or part of a destabilization effort.

"Wala pong instruction kahit kanino na hulihin si Senator Bato. Ang NBI, sinabihan ko, noong lumabas 'yung resolution ng Supreme Court, ay sinabi ko na umalis na kayo diyan at sumunod naman sila," Marcos said.

Regarding the shooting incident, Marcos said, "Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Wala pong pumasok na tagalabas na sundalo o militar o NBI sa Senado. Hindi po natin alam kung sino ’yong sumubok na pumasok at dahil doon nagkaputukan."

"Aalamin po natin at kinukuha po natin ang lahat ng ebidensya. maraming salamat po, kalma lang po. Asahan po ninyo, ang gobyerno ninyo hindi gagawa niyan," Marcos said.

Marcos said the uniformed personnel at the Senate building were police officers and Marines assigned to secure the institution and ensure crowd control. He also mentioned the armed personnel of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

"Taga-run sila," Marcos said.

(They are deployed there.)

"Maging kalma lang tayo. Nakausap ko na si Senate President Alan at we agree that the thing to do now is to tell all to calm down at alamin natin kung sino ang gumawa nitong gulo na ito. Ito ba ay nagka-engkuwentro lang or kasama sa destabilization or nagsisimula ng gulo?" Marcos said.

"Kailangan nating malaman ’yan, kaya sabay na mag-iimbestiga ang PNP at ang Senado. Masasabi ko lang na hindi po mag-alala ang ating taumbayan. Hindi po ang gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Wala pong pumasok na tagalabas na sundalo o militar o NBI sa Senado," he added.

(Let's just be calm. I've talked to Senate President Alan, and we agree that the thing to do now is to tell everyone to calm down and let's find out who created this mess. Was it just an encounter, or was it part of destabilization or starting a mess? We need to know that, so the PNP and the Senate will investigate at the same time. I can only say that our people should not worry. The government did not do this. No soldier, military, or NBI from the outside entered the Senate.)