Metro Manila, Philippines – Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV the gunfire scare inside the Senate was “planned” and “staged” to benefit Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
In an interview on The Newsmaker, Trillanes raised suspicions over the gunshots during the tense standoff.
“Knowing Alan Cayetano, you have to be careful,” Trillanes said.
“And the last thing you do as far as Alan Cayetano is concerned is to believe him,” he added.
Trillanes said the incident appeared designed to create confusion and sympathy for Dela Rosa.
“Clearly staged ‘yan. Planned ‘yan to benefit Bato and Alan Cayetano,” he said.
[Translation: That was clearly staged. That was planned to benefit Bato and Alan Cayetano.]
The former senator also questioned the gunshots shortly after authorities and National Bureau of Investigation personnel attempted to enter the Senate complex.
“Biglang may putukan. Tapos ang narrative agad, inaapi si Bato,” Trillanes said.
[Translation: Suddenly there were gunshots. Then the narrative immediately became that Bato was being oppressed.]
The National Bureau of Investigation said it is looking into the possibility that the incident may have been staged.
Dela Rosa has a standing arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court as a suspect in the crimes against humanity case of muder in relation to the bloody drug war of the Duterte administration. He was the implementer as national police chief.
