NBI driver arrested after Senate shooting incident —PNP

A driver employed at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was arrested after several gunshots were heard inside the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday night, according to the police.

The suspect, identified only by his alias “Mel Oragon,” was described as a 44-year-old Filipino male employed as a driver at the NBI, according to a police report obtained by GMA News Online from the Southern Police District (SPD) on Thursday.

READ: Senate shooting, lockdown: What went down

Initial investigation showed that the suspect, allegedly armed with an undetermined caliber of gun, fired several gunshots inside the Senate building, causing panic and alarm among people in the area at around 7:50 p.m. inside within the GSIS Compound.

Police said the suspect was subdued and arrested by members of the Senate Security Detachment.

Authorities are continuing the investigation, evidence gathering, witness interviews, and background verification to determine the motive behind the incident.

Charges for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, alarms and scandals, grave threats, direct assault, and violation of Senate security regulations are being prepared against the suspect.

The suspect has also undergone a paraffin examination inside the Senate building.

NBI director Melvin Matibag has previously said that there were no agents deployed at the Senate following the gunshots heard at the chamber’s premises on Wednesday evening.

Senate security personnel and police officers ask members of the media to stay back after gunshots were heard at the Philippine Senate, as chaos mounted in anticipation of an attempt to arrest a top senator wanted by the International Criminal Court, in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, May 13, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez

Custody

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said one person is currently in the custody of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).

He said the individual is being investigated by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Pasay City Police.

Police have already taken his affidavit and statements.

Tuaño said the individual had provided names during questioning, but authorities are still verifying his claims.

“May mga pangalan din po siyang binibigay para po ito ay magandang development sapagkat ito po ay subject for verification naman po,” he said.

(He is also giving names, so this is a good development, but this is subject to verification.)

Meanwhile, Tuaño said OSAA reported that its personnel only returned fire during the incident.

No injuries

Authorities are continuing the investigation, evidence gathering, witness interviews, and background verification to determine the motive behind the incident.

“At the time of this report, no confirmed casualties or injuries have been officially reported,” the police report said.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives of the NCR Forensic Unit and the SPD Forensic Unit conducted technical processing and forensic examination of the crime scene for documentation and evidence recovery.

Meanwhile, the District Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit conducted area paneling, bomb threat inspection, and security sweep operations to ensure the safety of the entire premises.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday night called on the public to stay calm after shots were heard during a lockdown of the Senate premises, saying government forces had no role in the shooting.

Marcos 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.

The PNP has raised the full alert status amid the tensions at the Senate premises on Wednesday evening. —VAL, GMA News