'Wala akong dalang baril': NBI driver denies firing gun in Senate
The volunteer driver for the National Bureau of Investigation, who was arrested for allegedly opening fire inside the Senate building on May 13, maintained his innocence as he was released from the Pasay Police Detention Facility on bail.
On May 14, officers from the Philippine National Police said they found the driver, identified as 44-year-old Mel Oragon, to be in possession of live ammunition, including an M16 and magazines.
Speaking to reporters at the NBI headquarters around 12 a.m. on May 19 after his temporary release, Oragon said he wasn't even carrying a gun on May 13.
According to Oragon, he heard the gunshots while he was with a group from the NBI in the GSIS building. About half an hour later, he, along with the agents he was with, returned to the NBI headquarters.
"Bigla akong tinawag at sinabihan ako na may naiwang bag [ang] isa sa kasamahan namin at kailangan na makuha dahil may mga gamot na laman," Oragon said.
He returned to the GSIS building using his personal motorcycle, arriving around 9 or 10 p.m. In his narration, a GSIS guard accompanied him to the second floor to retrieve the bag. But "more or less 10 meters" from the GSIS canteen, police officers arrested him.
Oragon is facing at least five charges, per PBGen. Randult Tuaño, chief of the PNP Public Information Office, including violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, alarm and scandal, grave threats, direct assault, and violation of the Senate's security regulations.
On May 18, Oragon, who has been an NBI volunteer since 2016 and a Philippine Army reservist since 2012, tested positive for gunpowder residue.
However, he denies carrying a gun, let alone shooting one inside the Senate, and finding the bag he was sent to retrieve, in which police said they found bullets, among other items.
"Wala po akong naipaputok na kahit anung uri ng baril simula nu'ng pumunta kami at hanggang nakabalik ako. May video na magpapatunay na wala akong dalang baril," Oragon said.
"Never po ako humawak ng baril nu'ng araw na 'yun hanggang nakarating kami [sa NBI headquarters]," he added. "Nagulat nga ako na inuugnay sa akin dahil never ko pong nahawakan o nalapitan yung bag."
"Ako'y napag-utusan lamang po. Ako'y isang volunteer lang ng NBI. Paminsan-minsan ay nagmamaneho ng sasakyan ng Bureau. Yun lamang po ang aking trabaho," Oragon said.
Senate shooting
The Senate has been under intense scrutiny since May 11, when Sen. Bato Dela Rosa showed up after a six-month absence to help unseat former Senate President Tito Sotto and replace him with newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
With NBI agents in the Senate premises to reportedly serve Dela Rosa an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity, Cayetano declared a Senate lockdown and placed Dela Rosa under protective custody.
The senator served as the PNP chief during former president Rodrigo Duterte's term, allegedly helping him carry out the so-called drug war, for which Duterte is awaiting trial at The Hague. Duterte is charged with three counts of murder as crimes against humanity. Dela Rosa has been identified as one of Duterte's co-perpetrators and is now on the ICC wanted list.
Amid mounting calls for Dela Rosa to face the warrant, tensions came to a head the night of May 13, when gunfire erupted on the second floor of the Senate. Although Oragon was eventually arrested for the shots, Mao Aplasca, then Senate sergeant-at-arms, admitted it was the OSAA who first fired warning shots to scare off NBI agents.
Dela Rosa left the Senate building early morning of May 14. He is currently at large.
