MANILA — Malacañang on Monday downplayed the shooting incident inside the Senate complex in Pasay City, insisting the chamber was “not under attack” despite heightened security tensions triggered by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Sen
Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
The Palace statement came after Senate President Alan Cayetano earlier described the incident as an attack on the Senate, following reports of gunshots heard inside the compound last Wednesday night.
“Was it under attack? It was not. The Senate was not under attack, you can see that in the news. It was a statement only by Senate President Alan Cayetano,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said during a press briefing.
The incident unfolded amid heightened political tension surrounding the ICC warrant issued against Dela Rosa over his alleged role in the Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police-Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect involved in the incident, an alleged National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) driver, is now facing multiple criminal and administrative complaints.
SPD spokesperson Police Lieutenant Margaret Panaga said charges filed against the suspect include violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, alarm and scandal, tumults and disturbances of public order, resistance and disobedience to authorities, disturbance of proceedings, trespassing, violation of Senate security regulations, and direct assault.
The suspect remains under the custody of the Pasay City Police.
Authorities said the suspect underwent paraffin testing and yielded positive results for powder nitrates, although investigators clarified that the finding does not conclusively establish that he fired a firearm.
Panaga said authorities are still determining the circumstances behind the positive test result and have yet to decide whether Senate security personnel and other law enforcement officers involved in the incident will also undergo paraffin testing.
Police recovered several rounds of live ammunition, loaded magazines for 5.56 caliber and 9mm firearms, and clothing bearing NBI markings from the suspect.
The suspect, identified only through the alias “Mel Oragon,” was described in police reports as a 44-year-old Filipino male working as an NBI driver.
Authorities arrested him after multiple gunshots were reportedly heard within the Senate compound on Wednesday night./PN
