Marines not involved in Senate shooting, AFP chief Brawner says

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said soldiers were not involved in the shooting incident at the Senate on Wednesday evening.

AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the Marines seen in videos inside the Senate before the incident were deployed there as part of their regular security duties.

“Nakausap namin yung commander. Hindi sila nagpaputok because they were there to support,” Brawner told reporters.

(We spoke to the commander. They didn't fire because they were there to support.)

He said members of the Marine Security and Escort Group (MSEG) are assigned to secure government facilities such as the Senate, House of Representatives, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and other offices.

“Trabaho nila ‘yun to secure the facility. Hindi yung security ng isang individual senator. They're there to secure the facility,” he said.

(It's their job to secure the facility. It's not for the security of a single senator. They're there to secure the facility.)

He also said the military personnel deployed at the Senate did not fire any shots.

Meanwhile, Brawner said he was on his way to a meeting with officials after the Senate incident.

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 evening, according to the police Thursday.

NBI director Melvin Matibag has previously said that there were no agents deployed at the Senate during the incident.

Police said the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) reported that its personnel only returned fire after the gunshots.

The incident happened amid the possible arrest of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa after the International Criminal Court (ICC) released a warrant against him in connection with the Duterte’s administration's drug war. — RSJ, GMA News