'Atras, baril!: Senate beat reporters continue their updates through gunfire, tears, and a lockdown

The grit and courage of Filipino reporters were on full display on the night of May 13 in the Senate building as multiple gunshots were heard inside the premises. Even as members of the media were being told to leave, reporters, photographers, and cameramen continued their coverage, transmitting live to their home stations while running to safety. 

As Zyann Ambrosio, a reporter for TV Patrol, gave live updates of the harrowing events, she could be heard crying on the line.

"Tensyonado ang sitwasyon dito sa Senado matapos dumating ang iba't ibang law enforcement, may taga-Marines, may taga-NBI, tsaka mga PNP. Mahigpit 'yung seguridad dito..." Ambrosio reported as screams and more gunshots could be heard in the background. 

From the studio, TV Patrol anchor Alvin Elchico told Ambrosio to prioritize her safety.

"Kung makokompromiso 'yung security mo, itigil na muna natin ito...Ayusin mo muna 'yung security mo; mas importante 'yung security mo kaysa sa ulat mo," Elchico said on the air. 

Ambrosio's fellow ABS-CBN reporter Victoria Tulad was onsite, as well, shouting to be heard over the commotion.

Referring to the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Tulad reported, "'Yung mga OSAA, hinaharang ang media, at kita natin 'yung mga pulis, nandu'n sa dulo...hindi na natin makita, may mga hawak silang baril..."

ANC anchor Karen Davila got more details from Tulad in an interview for Headstart on May 14.

"A little past 7 p.m., we saw Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa leaving the room of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. Sumakay siya sa elevator at nakita natin 'yung elevator pababa. So we all ran downstairs... Pagdating sa baba, there was no Senator Dela Rosa who came out from the elevator."

"Kudos to you and all our ABS-CBN reporters who were with you, who were covering the scene last night. Thank you, Victoria," Davila told Talud, concluding the interview. 

Arles Delos Santos, a reporter for One PH, shared a similar live update as he ran through the Senate halls to find safety amidst the gunfire. 

As gunfire erupted nearby, Delos Santos gave real-time reports as he ran to the exit with other journalists: "Mga kapatid, tuluy-tuloy 'yung pagputok ng baril dito...Patay na po ang ilaw dito sa Senado."

He added an unnecessary apology for his frenzied reporting earlier. 

"Salamat po sa concerns at pangangamusta. Ligtas po ako and our friends from the media. Pasensiya na sa panic sa FB live. Nagulat lang dahil sa hindi inaasahang pangyayari," Delos Santos wrote on Facebook. 

For Al Jazeera's Jamela Aisha Alindogan, covering the Senate skirmish on May 13 was a first, despite having been caught in the middle of violence before as a reporter. 

"I have seen my own share of violence. I have been caught in it before, many times… but never in the Senate. This was meant to be sacred. The Senate became a battleground. Whatever this was, whether planned, foiled, or deliberately stirred, it revealed how many of those in power are far too willing to plunge the country into chaos," she wrote on Facebook a few hours after the incident.

Several other Senate beat reporters marked themselves safe while still on their post. 

Robert Mano, a reporter for ABS-CBN News, shared proof of life by way of a photo with other Senate beat reporters after their coverage shift. 

"Uwian na! Senate Beat, tara na! Duty pa tayo ulit mamaya," he wrote on Facebook alongside a group photo with other journalists. 

Conde Batac, a reporter for DZXL News, echoed Alindogan, saying the shooting in the Senate was unprecedented, but it wouldn't keep her from soldiering on. 

"Yung naiiyak ka na sa takot pero kailangan mo ihatid kung ano yung nangyayari. Yung nanginginig ka na para kang magpapanic attack pero kailangan mo i-compose ang iyong sarili kasi magrereport ka pa," she wrote on social media. 

GMA News anchor Bam Alegre was thankful that the survival skills he learned in school came in handy during his Senate coverage. 

"Sa magdamag, nanatiling nakasara sa publiko ang Senate of the Philippines. Sa bangketa, muling isinabuhay ang mga training ng Boy Scouts of the Philippines," he wrote. 

Another GMA News reporter, Ian Cruz, posted, "Ligtas kame!" soon after the shooting incident. "Salamat sa sipag at dedikasyon ng lahat, maihatid lamang ang huling kaganapan mula sa Mataas na Kapulungan ng Kongreso."

Manila Standard correspondent Joshua Isaac Español reported from outside the locked-down Senate, saying it was "one of the longest nights" he'd ever had.

"11 shots fired na narinig namin habang tumatawid papuntaing GSIS, and pagdating ni Jonvic, na sinundan ni Nartatez. Ngayon lang din ako nakakita ng agresibong DDS mob na nakikipag away sa pulis (ironic)," he wrote on Facebook. "Takot, gulat, lungkot (na wala naging progress ang paghuli), at the end of the day, history still did unfold behind my (and our) eyes."

In their news studios, anchors, producers, and writers waited for and curated the live reports that trickled in from their colleagues on the field. 

The ABS-CBN Newsroom buzzed with tense activity as staff monitored the live coverage of TV Patrol. 

"Hindi mapakali maging ang mga taga-ABS-CBN Newsroom habang binabantayan ang mga pangyayari at lagay ng news teams sa loob at labas ng Senado para sa live coverage ng TV Patrol nitong Miyerkules, Mayo 13," wrote Patrol ng Pilipino on social media. 

University of the Philippines journalism professor Danilo Arao summed up the coverage with a salute to the reporters: "Delivering the news is hard work. Truth-telling should be valued."

Shooting incident

On Wednesday, May 13, at least five shots were heard inside the legislative building as agents of the NBI and PNP were seen in the premises. During that time, several senators were still inside, including Dela Rosa.

No casualties were reported.

Earlier in the day, Dela Rosa shared he received information he would be arrested after the day's session. 

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. 

Although Dela Rosa's lawyer Atty. Israelito Torreon posted a selfie with the senator pre-dawn of May 14, showing both in what appeared to be the Senate building, a member of the Senate Secretariat confirmed that Dela Rosa is no longer within the premises.