AFP chief Brawner dismisses possible destabilization after Senate shooting incident

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday dismissed concerns that the shooting incident at the Senate could trigger destabilization.

“My instructions to the soldiers nationwide is for everyone to remain calm, disciplined, and professional. We should only focus on our jobs and leave politics to the politicians,” AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters.

“Very professional ang Armed Forces so hindi kami nag-aalala na ‘yung nangyari kagabi will spark something na mag-destab yung mga sundalo, hindi,” he added.

(The Armed Forces are very professional so we are not worried that what happened last night will spark destabilization involving soldiers, no.)

Marines deployed at the Senate were not involved in the shooting incident, according to the AFP chief.

Brawner said the soldiers seen in videos inside the Senate before the incident were deployed there as part of their regular security duties.

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

A driver employed at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was arrested after several gunshots were heard inside the Senate, according to the police Thursday.

NBI director Melvin Matibag 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 an arrest warrant against him in connection with the Duterte’s administration's drug war.

Dela Rosa is no longer in the Senate, a senator confirmed Thursday.

According to the lawmaker, a member of the Senate secretariat said Dela Rosa left the Senate premises early Thursday morning. The secretariat staff also said Dela Rosa exited around 2:30 a.m. — RSJ, GMA News