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Metro Manila, Philippines – Authorities are looking into the possibility that the gunfire scare at the Senate halls was “staged,” National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said the morning after the chaos.  In a briefing with Palace press officer Claire Castro on Thursday, May 14, Matibag was asked to comment on the ties between the timeline of Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s arrest attempt and the commotion on Wednesday night. He was asked if authorities are also looking at the incident as “staged.” “That is a part of an ongoing investigation,” Matibag said, citing reasons such as Dela Rosa’s alleged “hiding” after rumors of the warrant began to float last year.  “Well, I’ll be very honest, that’s the sentiment of our NBI agents kasi nandoon kami [we were there]…isa na po sa aming tinitingnan iyon [that’s one of the things we’re looking at],” he added. The NBI director said Senate…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Questions have emerged over the relationship between Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca following a tense standoff with law enforcers near the Senate complex. Aplasca, a retired police general, is reportedly a “mistah” or schoolmate from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), raising concerns about possible connections influencing events during the incident. The Senate security chief is from PMA Class of 1987 while Dela Rosa is from Class of 1986. The Palace earlier said the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), led by Aplasca, fired the first warning shot after encountering National Bureau of Investigation agents near the Government Service Insurance System property. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen Jose Melencio Nartatez said in a briefing in Malacanang that as a former PMA graduate himself, they have a duty to ensure justice. “Well, on my part I’m a graduate of Philippine Military Academy.…

Metro Manila, Philippines-  Malacañang said Senate security personnel fired the first warning shot during a tense scene inside the Senate building, while citing sources that embattled Senator Bato Dela Rosa is no longer in the premises. “Agad nagpaputok ng warning shot si Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca. At dahil doon, napilitan ding magpaputok ng warning shot ang NBI agent,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Thursday, May 14, briefing.  [Translation: The Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca immediately fired a warning shot. Because of that, the NBI agent was also forced to fire a warning shot.] Castro said the incident began after Senate officials spotted National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents within the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) property adjacent to the Senate. The Senate complex itself is part of the GSIS property. She clarified that NBI presence was requested to secure the GSIS premises and not to conduct an arrest operation. “Walang assault…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte was transmitted to the Senate in an orderly manner after gunshots rang out and caused a commotion at the chamber’s building on Wednesday evening, May 13, House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil said. Records showed that the Senate received the documents and the box containing the tax records of Duterte and her spouse, Mans Carpio, at 7:22 p.m. Initial reports from authorities said unidentified people tried to enter the second floor of the Senate building where the gunshots were heard at 7:46 pm. “Throughout the process, the House of Representatives remained focused on fulfilling its constitutional duty faithfully, professionally, and without disruption,” said Garafil in a statement on Thursday, April 14. “Despite the heightened political atmosphere surrounding the proceedings, the House Secretariat remained guided solely by its constitutional mandate and institutional responsibilities,” she added. Garafil said House personnel…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Sen. Bato dela Rosa left the Senate premises at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, a few hours after gunshots were heard in the halls of the facility on lockdown. A senator confirmed this to reporters, citing the secretariat. This came hours after a still undetermined number of armed men allegedly tried to enter the Senate, sparking a shooting incident Wednesday night. Other senators said Dela Rosa was believed to be safe with ally Sen. Robin Padilla amid the chaos. Dela Rosa had been holed up at the Senate under protective custody since Monday amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The former police chief turned senator had recorded months of absence in the Senate, only showing up on Monday when the majority of senators staged a coup to oust then Tito Sotto as Senate President. Dela Rosa’s camp had not issued a statement on…