Senate President confirms Senator Bato dela Rosa no longer in Senate premises

Philippine Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday that Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, wanted by the International Court, was no longer in the Senate building where he had been taking refuge.

"The sergeant-at-arms has confirmed that he is no longer in the building," Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters.

Meanwhile, according to a report of the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the be Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Thursday the arrest of a suspect in the shooting incident that occurred inside the Senate building in Pasay City on Wednesday night.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño identified the suspect as alias “Mel Oragon,” a 44-year-old native of Camarines Norte.

According to Tuaño, the suspect was found in possession of M15 live ammunition and a magazine. He has been inquested and will face at least five charges.

"“He was caught, in his possession, what we call live ammunition of M15 and magazine and based on that he was inquested and will be charged with at least five cases,” he said.

While there are reports linking the suspect to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Tuaño declined to confirm these details at this time.

He stated that the PNP will release an official statement later today regarding the suspect's alleged employment and ties to other agencies.

-Paraluman News with reports from Reuters (Mikhail Flores; Martin Petty; Editing by David Stanway)