Metro Manila, Philippines – Presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos urged the chief executive to temporarily relieve three National Bureau of Investigation executives, the morning after chaos erupted in the Senate over an alleged attempt to arrest Sen. Bato dela Rosa.
In a letter to President Bongbong Marcos, the senator expressed “serious concern over the alleged firing of shots” she claimed were from some of the bureau’s agents.
She named the following officials:
•NBI Director Melvin Matibag
•NBI-NCR chief Emeterio Dongallo Jr.
•NBI Organized and Transnational Crime Division chief Jerome Bomediano
“Such temporary relief is necessary to preserve the integrity and credibility of the investigation and to remove any appearance of undue influence or impropriety,” she said.
The Senate went into lockdown after its session Wednesday as military, agents, and police officers surrounded the building.
A few shots rang out in the halls of the second floor moments after the lockdown.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said there were no recorded casualties and authorities are investigating the matter.
Dela Rosa is under Senate protective custody while he evades a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in relation to his stint as chief implementor of the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war.
