NBI Dir. Matibag: No armed agents at the Senate, no orders to arrest Bato dela Rosa
National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag asserted that he has not given any orders to arrest Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa after multiple gunshots were heard inside the Philippine Senate on May 13.
In an interview with ANC, Matibag denied claims that NBI officers were at the Senate. He clarified that that they are at the Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City for an event.
"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."
Matibag stressed that he has no clue on the identity of the shooter on whether they belonged to the NBI or the Philippine National Police.
When asked whether he gave any order to arrest dela Rosa, he said, "Wala po, 100% wala po. If may somebody na gumawa nun, hindi pwede 'yun. We have to make that person answerable."
"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 said.
Matibag also stated that he has no plans to send agents to the Senate amid the ensuing chaos as it will only worsen the allegations against them.
"Kami na po 'yung pinagbibintangan, kapag pumunta kami roon baka naman maturo pa kami o kaya'y makaroon ng commotion na akala nanggugulo pa kami. So I have to protect my people naman po," he reasoned. "Ang mabigat po diyan wala pa nga pong imbestigasyon, kami na kaagad 'yung natuturo."
Dela Rosa has holed up at the building since Monday and urged the military to stop attempts to arrest and fly him to the Netherlands to stand trial on charges of crimes against humanity in relation to the drug war by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
