Reports indicated that the Sergeant-at-Arms had announced a lockdown prior to the shooting, with the office saying that it was preparing to arrest “someone” but did not disclose further details.Several senators also went to Facebook, livestreaming their situation, claiming they were “under attack.”
Several senators also went on Facebook Live to document the situation, claiming they were “under attack.”
These included Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and Sens. Bong Go, Imee Marcos and Mark Villar,
Dela Rosa, meanwhile, posted updates on his Facebook page.
There were no reported casualties or injuries following the shooting.
READ: No casualties reported after gunfire in Senate, official says
Apart from the gunshots, drilling sounds were also heard on the first floor near the doors connected to the GSIS parking area.
Photos from Go’s Facebook page showed him and other members of the Senate majority bloc having a meal after the incident.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla was also present at the scene and was seen laughing in the direction of Sen. Robin Padilla. Cayetano, who earlier said they were “allegedly under attack” in a video, was also seen smiling in the photo.
Remulla said he went to the site to secure the senators and not to arrest Dela Rosa.
The senators, along with Remulla, went outside the building and granted press interviews at 9:30 p.m.
Among those who were spotted in the vicinity were the Cayetano siblings (Alan Peter and Sen. Pia Cayetano), the Villar siblings (Sens. Mark and Camille Villar), Joel Villanueva, Imee, Go, Loren Legarda and Rodante Marcoleta — members of the new Senate majority installed following the leadership coup on Monday, May 11.
The shooting incident raised questions from several Filipinos who expressed doubt about the authenticity of the events.
A Facebook page questioned why some senators were still in the building when the shooting occurred, noting that the session had already ended. It also asked why they went “live” on Facebook simultaneously during the incident.
“Unang-una, natapos ang Senate session ng 6 p.m. The minority has no business staying in the Senate after the session. Ito po ang tanong, required ba na mag-live nang sabay-sabay ang mga DDS senators when they are under threat?” the page asked.
Sen. Ping Lacson said the incident should be investigated to determine who fired the shots at whom and the motive.
“Chaos, guns fired inside the Senate building. Checked my staff, they’re all safe. Thank God no reports of casualties or injuries. Next thing to do is investigate to find out who fired his/their gun/s, at whom, and most importantly, the motive,” he wrote on social media.
“More on the Senate incident last night: He who has the MEANS, OPPORTUNITY and MOTIVE is the most probable suspect,” Lacson said in a separate post.
Akbayan party-list president Rafaela David also said the incident could have been “staged,” noting that the Senate was where Dela Rosa was staying as he faces an ICC arrest warrant.
“We echo serious concerns that the incident may have been deliberately staged to manufacture chaos, potentially to mask an attempt by Dela Rosa to escape and/or to pressure the Supreme Court into issuing a temporary restraining order (TRO) in his favor,” she said.
“A senator allegedly being sneaked into the Senate using the Senate President’s own vehicle, followed by disorder and confrontation inside one of the country’s highest democratic institutions. That alone demands full accountability,” David added.
Political scientist and and governance specialist Cleve Arguelles also raised questions after reviewing more details of the incident, suggesting it may have been intended to “delay” the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate on that same evening, around past 7 p.m. The Senate is set to convene as an impeachment court for the trial.
“Why did the Senate President immediately point to NBI agents when those same agents had supposedly been barred from entering the Senate since Monday? Wasn’t Senate security tightened precisely to prevent law enforcement officers from entering the premises and arresting the fugitive senator being sheltered there?” Arguelles asked.
“For instance, what exactly would have been the motive of those allegedly trying to interfere with the Senate? Almost instantly, mabilis pa sa alas kwatro, our dearest Senator-Vloggers went live to amplify the narrative that ‘the Senate is under attack,’” he added.
“But under attack by whom? Certainly not by law enforcement agencies, according to both the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and the PNP (Philippine National Police). And for what purpose? To secretly and forcibly execute an ICC arrest warrant against a sitting senator while the entirety of this country’s media was present and watching?” he said.
“In fact, the motive for staging, or at the very least exploiting, such a narrative appears much clearer. The story that ‘the Senate is under attack’ conveniently generates public sympathy not only for continuing to harbor an international fugitive, but also for once again delaying the Senate’s constitutional duty to convene the impeachment trial,” Arguelles added.
Reports state that based on information, Dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate building, together with Padilla, between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.
As of Thursday, May 14, Mel Oragon, an individual that NBI director Melvin Matibag says is not an “official NBI employee” but a “volunteer” working as a driver for NBI agents, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
He is alleged to have fired several gunshots inside the Senate building around 7:50 p.m. within the GSIS compound.
Matibag earlier said no agents were deployed at the Senate during that period.
Based on available information, Dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate building together with Sen. Robin Padilla between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.
— with reports from Philstar.com/Cristina Chi
