President Marcos orders NBI, PNP to investigate Senate gunfire incident

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the incident at the Senate on Wednesday night, where a commotion and gunshots were reported.

During a Palace press briefing, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said he attended a meeting called by the President, who instructed authorities to ensure that the probe would be truthful, fair, and would clearly identify those responsible.

“Opo, meron po kaming pagpupulong (kasama si Presidente) na sa nangyari po kahapon…(Naging bilin) siguraduhin ang imbestigasyon ay makatotohanan at parehas at lumabas kung sino talaga ang may mga pananagutan. At siguraduhin na tawagin at pananagutin yung mga taong may dapat na panagutan sa pangyayaring ito,” Matibag said.

PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. also confirmed that the police would coordinate closely with other agencies to fully investigate what happened and identify all individuals involved, including security personnel assigned to the GSIS building and those linked to Senate security.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro provided a timeline of events leading up to the incident, saying it began with heightened tension after reports circulated about a possible arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

She said Dela Rosa earlier went on a livestream claiming he might be arrested, followed by a statement from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms suggesting a possible arrest scenario within Senate premises.

Castro said NBI agents were later deployed near the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound, which shares access points with the Senate, after GSIS management requested assistance in securing its facilities.

“Walang operasyon ang NBI o PNP na arestuhin si Senator Bato,” Castro said, adding that President Marcos had confirmed there was no directive to arrest the senator.

She also noted that confusion escalated when Senate security reportedly went on alert after spotting NBI personnel near the shared access area, leading to a confrontation in which warning shots were fired.

Matibag said the NBI and PNP have requested full CCTV footage from Senate authorities to help reconstruct the sequence of events.

He added that investigators are reviewing multiple key moments, including Dela Rosa’s movements inside the Senate, the reported confrontation near access points, and his eventual departure from the premises without the NBI confirming his location.

-Paraluman News