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 security personnel fired the first warning shot during the tense encounter inside the Senate building.
As of 11 a.m., Castro confirmed that Dela Rosa has left the Senate facilities and authorities have no information on his whereabouts.
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 has recorded months of absence in the Senate, only showing up on Monday to boost the numbers to oust then Senate President Tito Sotto.
