The situation, in brief
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday night addressed the nation following a shooting incident at the Senate, categorically denying that the government ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and asserting that no outside military, NBI, or law enforcement personnel entered the…
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday night addressed the nation following a shooting incident at the Senate, categorically denying that the government ordered the arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and asserting that no outside military, NBI, or law enforcement personnel entered the Senate building.
“Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Walang pumasok na taga-labas na sundalo, na militar, na NBI sa Senado,” Marcos said in a statement.
The President said he had been monitoring the situation for approximately two and a half hours, and that his first call upon learning of the shooting was to DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, followed by a call to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.
“Tinanong ko sa mga NBI, at kay Director Matibag, ‘Kayo ba ay pumasok sa Senado?’ Sabi niya, ‘Wala. Wala kang instruction, Sir, kaya’t ba’t namin gagawin ‘yun?’” Marcos recounted.
The President clarified the identity of all uniformed personnel seen inside the Senate, saying they consisted only of PNP officers on duty for crowd control and security, and Marines from a detachment permanently assigned to the Senate.
“’Yan lang ang sundalo o pulis na nasa loob. Taga-roon ang nandoon,” he said.
Marcos also identified a third group seen in civilian clothing carrying long firearms as personnel from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate.
“’Yun naman ay sa Sergeant-at-Arms ng Senado. So lahat ng nakikita ninyong naka-uniporme o armado na nandoon ay taga-roon,” he said.
The President said he personally ordered the NBI to stand down after the Supreme Court issued its resolution Wednesday afternoon directing parties to comment on dela Rosa’s petition.
“Sinabi ko, ‘Umalis na kayo riyan.’ Nag-comply naman sila. Kaya’t noong kausap ko si Director Matibag, sabi niya, ‘Walang NBI roon. Nandito lahat kami sa opisina,’” Marcos said.
Marcos confirmed there was no order from anyone to arrest dela Rosa.
“Nais kong maibida sa inyong lahat, wala pong instruksyon kahit na kanino na hulihin si Senator Bato,” he said, adding that he has since spoken with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and that both agree the priority is to calm the public.
The President announced that the Senate and the PNP will conduct a joint investigation into the shooting, raising the possibility that the incident may have been a deliberate attempt to destabilize.
“Aalamin natin kung sino ang gumawa nitong gulo na ito. Ito ba ay talagang nagka-engkuwentro lang, o ito ba ay may kasama sa mga destab o nagsisimula ng gulo?” Marcos said.
Marcos closed his statement with an appeal for calm, assuring the public that the government was not behind the incident and that all evidence is being collected.
“Kalma lang po. Asahan ninyo, ’yung gobyerno po ninyo, hindi gagawin ito,” he said.
