The Philippine National Police (PNP) has appealed for calm and restraint as speculation continues to spread over the gunfire incident at the Senate building in Pasay City on May 13.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said investigators are pursuing all possible angles and working to establish a clear, evidence-based account of what happened.
“Just like everyone, we in the PNP are also interested to know everything about this incident. We are looking into all the angles based on facts and all the pieces of evidence that we have, and we can get in order to come up with a clear picture of what really happened in the interest of truth, accountability and justice,” Nartatez said.
The PNP chief issued the statement as social media platforms became flooded with theories, rumors and claims about the motive and circumstances behind the incident.
Nartatez said the police have already gathered significant pieces of evidence and testimonies, including information related to the arrested suspect and copies of CCTV footage from the Senate at the time of the incident.
He also said concerned government agencies have been cooperating with the investigation.
“We acknowledge the urgency of providing all our kababayan definite answers to their questions over the incident, answers that are based on facts and as a result of meticulous investigation,” Nartatez said.
He assured the public that the PNP will release the findings as soon as the investigation is completed and verified.
“The Filipino people deserve to know the truth, and we in the PNP commits to release the investigation in the soonest possible time,” he said.
Nartatez, however, urged the public to give investigators enough time to complete their work and avoid spreading unverified information while the probe is ongoing.