'Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito': Marcos on Senate shooting
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued a statement on Wednesday evening to address the shooting incident at the Senate earlier that day. He clarified that the government was not behind the attack and that no external state forces were authorized to enter the premises.
The President said that upon hearing the news, he immediately coordinated with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and the National Bureau of Investigation to assess the situation.
Marcos addressed the presence of armed men at the scene, identifying them as regular security details assigned to the Senate, including members of the Philippine National Police, the Marines, and the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
"Lahat ng nakikita niyong naka uniporme, naka armas ay tiga doon. Doon sila nag duduty," he explained.
Marcos also denied issuing any orders for the arrest of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa following the Supreme Court's recent resolution regarding the International Criminal Court warrant.
"Wala pong instruction kahit na kanino na hulihin si Sen. Bato. Ang NBI ay sinabihan ko nung lumabas yung resolution ng Supreme Court kaninang alas 4 ng hapon, ay sinabi ko umalis na kayo diyan, at umalis na sila. Nag comply naman sila," Marcos stated.
Marcos also said that he was in communication with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. He assured the public that an investigation between the Senate and the PNP is underway to determine whether the incident was a spontaneous encounter or a coordinated destabilization effort.
"Aalamin natin kung sino ang gumawa nitong gulo na ito. Ito ba ay talagang nagka-enkwentro lang or kasama sa mga destab o nagsisimula ng gulo. Kailangan po natin malaman yan kaya mag iimbistiga sabay ang Senado at PNP tungkol dito," Marcos said.
"Masasabi ko lang, at para hindi po mag alala ang taong bayan, hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Walang pumasok na tiga-labas na sundalo, na militar, na NBI sa Senado. Hindi po natin alam kung sino yun na sumubok pumasok at saka dahil doon ay nagkaputukan," he added.
Marcos concluded his statement saying, "Maraming salamat. Kalma lang po. Asahan ninyo yung gobyerno po ninyo."
'No casualties'
Multiple gunshots sent Philippine senators into hiding in their offices late Wednesday.
Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla told reporters there were no casualties, adding that the search for the gunmen was ongoing.
The dramatic scene unfolded as Dela Rosa—former president Rodrigo Duterte's top enforcer during his bloody drug war—holed up in the Senate complex to dodge arrest and transfer to the Netherlands over alleged crimes against humanity.
The senator remains inside the building, said Remulla, who arrived on the scene minutes after the gunfire.
"I am here to ensure the integrity of the Senate and the protection of all the senators," Remulla said.
He added that Dela Rosa "is safe. He is with security personnel. He has been informed of our activities. We have assured him that there is no warrant of arrest to be served."
Earlier that day, Dela Rosa had appealed to the military to oppose attempts to detain him, urging former colleagues to resist any move by President Ferdinand Marcos's government to hand him over to the ICC.
"My fellow men in uniform" should "express their sentiment" that the government "should not hand me over to foreigners," he said. (with reports from AFP)
