READ: Senators' statements after multiple gunshots were fired in Senate
Philippine senators released statements after multiple gunshots shocked the public on Wednesday night, May 13, inside the Senate building.
Following the tension, several senators gave updates on the situation inside the Senate halls after the gunfire. Senate President Alan Cayetano, via his Facebook Live, shared that they have received a tip that agents of National Bureau of Investigation is attempting to enter the building.
"We don't know what’s happening. Everyone is locked in their rooms now, we cannot go out, we cannot secure our other staff. Walang sumasagot from the government to us," he said.
"Why are we under attack here? I don’t know what’s happening. I do not know if I can keep my people safe here. I’m willing to go out. I’m willing to face anyone who is going to serve the warrant…you’re welcome to serve. But do not do this," he added.
Cayetano further shared that Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who has an impending ICC arrest and is seeking refuge in the Senate, is safe.
"Sen. Bato is secured. He's okay. Aakyatin namin ni Sec. Remulla. Hindi siya aarestuhin," the Senate President said. "Ngayon, they will respect the Supreme Court's decision of giving three days each na mag-comment."
'We are under attack'
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, meanwhile, claimed that NBI agents were the ones who fired the gunshots, as allegedly confirmed by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca.
"I was at the office of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano together with several senators. We’re having a caucus and we were awaiting for the articles of impeachment (of Vice President Sara Duterte) to be transmitted here in the senate. That explains the reason why we were still here at the senate building," he said in his interview with ONE News.
"I was not aware of the tip. According to the chief of the office of Sgt. at Arms Mao Aplasca, it was the NBI who first fired the gunshot. And of course, we, the senators, were inside the office senate president Cayetano, we were surprised. Hindi na kami pinalabas ng mga tao because tuloy-tuloy ang putukan sa second floor mismo. And the NBI, allegedly, were already on the ledge, nandoon na sa ledge ng senate building. they really wanted to enter the senate building, ‘yun ang report ng aming Sgt. at Arms," he shared.
"The reason why he said that it was the NBI is because naka-uniform sila ng ano e, may vest, nakalagay NBI e. So it’s been confirmed that the elements of the NBI were the first to fire the gunshots, and this is unforgivable," he added.
Senators Mark Villar and Dela Rosa also gave updates in the early moments after the tension.
"Trap[ped] pa rin kami sa Senate, almost two hours na ata," Villar said during his Facebook livestream at around 9 p.m. "Tumigil na ‘yung gunfire pero kanina ang lakas ng putukan sa loob. Nag blackout kami, pinatay namin ‘yung mga ilaw. Pero okay kami ngayon medyo nagnonormalize na. Nandito pa kami kasama lahat ng senador. We’re safe and please pray for us."
"We are under attack. Cavaliers pls help us," Dela Rosa wrote in his post.
Meanwhile, Sen. Imee Marcos expressed dismay at how concerned agencies, including her brother, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, were clueless about the incident.
"Grabe nang kalokohan ‘to. Lahat sila nagtatanggi: DILG, hindi daw nila ginawa nandito si Jonvic sabi niya wala siyang kinalaman dito; PNP wala ring alam, ang NBI dedma rin hindi rin nila alam. Pati ang ating pangulo sabi nila hindi rin nila alam. Pero ang NBI buong tapang na sumugod dito sa Senado nagpaputok at kung anu-ano ang pinaggagawa. Kaya isang malaking himala itong nangyari sa senado, isang kahiya-hiyang pangyayari sa araw na ito sa kagustuhan lamang nila na madakip si senator Bato na kayang kaya naman gawin, kumuha lang sila ng warrant sa isang korte na Pilipino. Hindi ‘yung ganito na talagang tatakutin ang mga senador," she said in her Facebook video.
"Kanina pa kami rito, talagang walang umaamin, walang may alam, lahat sila gulatan. Hindi ko maintindihan," she added. She also claimed that an NBI agent received an order from her brother to arrest dela Rosa "at all costs."
"Ito ang sabi nila, talagang deny to death. Pero ang sabi ng NBI agent inutusan daw sila personally and directly ni BBM: 'Arrest Bato at all costs, kahit sino pa ang mamatay, kahit sino pa ang madali, basta pasukuin si Bato, ngayon din.' Hindi namin maintindihan kung anong totoo, mukhang wala namang nag-utos nito. Bakit nagkaroon ng senate seige?" she added.
A call for calm
Sen. Bong Go, meanwhile, asked the public to remain vigilant. "Sa mga kababayan nating nakikinig, wag muna tayong masyadong mabahala, hintayin nating lumabas yung katotohnanan."
Sen. Bam Aquino also expressed concern, stressing that violence has no place amid political disagreements. "Lubhang nakababahala ang nangyayari sa Senado ngayong gabi. Sa gitna ng mga kaguluhan sa pulitika, nabalot ng dahas ang minamahal nating institusyon. Kahit anupaman ang nangyayaring alitan sa ating bansa, walang puwang ang karahasan sa ating demokrasya," he wrote in his Facebook post.
"Nananawagan tayo sa lahat ng kinauukulan na unahin ang kaligtasan ng mga sibilyan, media at mga kawani ng gobyerno at higit sa lahat, sumunod sa batas," he added.
Other senators have yet to issue their statements.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag earlier asserted that he has not given any orders to arrest dela Rosa.
"Wala kami [sa Senado]. We are on stand down because that's the instruction," he said. "May agreement kami ni Sen. Alan [Peter Cayetano] na hindi kami papasok. At the same time, hangga't wala pong order and coordination with all the agencies involved, hindi po kami mag-eeffect ng arrest," he said.
"Wala pong [mga baril ang mga taga-NBI] dahil hindi po kami talaga pupunta roon because that is the agreement and that is the order," he added.
The President, in his video statement, stressed that there were no instructions given to arrest dela Rosa.
"Walang instruction kahit kanino na hulihin si Sen. Bato," he said. "Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito."
He assured, "Kalma lang po asahan ninyo yung gobyerno po ninyo."
Dela Rosa has remained inside the Senate building since Monday, May 11 urging the military to block any attempt to arrest and transfer him to the Netherlands over crimes against humanity charges tied to the drug war of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
He served as a police chief during the early crackdown that left thousands dead. He recently resurfaced after months out of public view to take part in a Senate vote that helped Duterte allies regain control. Duterte is currently detained in The Hague awaiting trial.