Malacañang on Monday rejected claims that the Senate was placed under siege during last week’s shooting incident, saying government agencies never described the chamber as being under attack.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said reports from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and media accounts did not support claims that an assault on the Senate took place.
“Senate siege? Was it under attack? It was not, the Senate was not under attack. You can see that from the news, not only from the statements of the NBI and PNP. It was only the statement made by Senator Alan Cayetano. So, as far as we are concerned, as far as the government is concerned, the Senate was never under attack,” Castro said.
Castro said NBI agents were at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building, where the Senate is also located, but did not serve the arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa out of respect for the Senate and pending proceedings before the Supreme Court.
She said the issue was not whether the NBI failed to act, but whether the Senate was right to interfere with the service of the warrant.
“Dito makikita ninyo kung sino ang may respeto sa isang institusyon at sino ang hindi rumespeto sa batas,” Castro said.
Tension erupted at the Senate on May 13 after gunshots were heard while Dela Rosa was under Senate protective custody in connection with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over the Duterte administration’s drug war.
Dela Rosa left the Senate premises before dawn the following day.
Asked about allegations that the incident was staged or scripted, Castro said Malacañang would not draw conclusions while investigations are still ongoing.
She urged the public to rely only on verified information and be more discerning about reports surrounding the incident.
Malacañang also said it respects the Office of the Ombudsman’s six-month suspension order against Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, who reportedly fired a shot inside the Senate building.
Castro added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appeared disappointed over the developments, particularly Dela Rosa’s departure despite being under protective custody.
“Sa huling pangyayari patungkol doon sa diumano na pagtakas at pagkawala kahit na may protective custody ang Senado, nakakadismaya naman talaga,” she said.