Metro Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday called out the Senate for supposedly refusing to receive a subpoena seeking security camera footage and other records related to the May 13 standoff inside the Senate building.
Remulla said the subpoena is considered served.
“Nagkakaproblema ha ‘yung aming process server, ayaw tanggapin sa Senate, pero may notice na,” Remulla said in an interview. “Hindi ko sila naintindihan. Basta sa akin considered served na ‘yan kahit hindi nila tinanggap.”
[Translation: Our process server is encountering problems because the Senate refused to receive it, although notice has already been given. I do not understand them, but for me, it is considered served even if they did not accept it.]
The ombudsman also referred to remarks by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano on possible charges against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, as it showed that Senate officials were aware of the suspension order on the Senate sergeant-at-arms.
Remulla criticized the actions of Senate security personnel in firing warning shots against NBI agents.
“Para mag-warning shot ka sa law enforcement, you think that you are above the law,” he said.
[Translation: If you fire a warning shot at law enforcement, you think you are above the law.]
“Kahit nagtatrabaho ka sa Senado, nobody is above the law,” he added.
[Translation: Even if you work at the Senate, nobody is above the law.]
The controversy stemmed from the May 13 gunshot scare between the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) personnel and NBI operatives inside the Senate building.
In a statement on Saturday, May 16, the OSAA denied claims that there was no security camera footage of the scene.
“The CCTV (closed circuit television) system covering the concerned areas of the Senate premises was fully operational during the incident,” the OSAA said.
It said it formally received a request from the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region on May 14 for copies of relevant recordings and turned them over on the same day.
“These official records categorically disprove allegations that no CCTV footage existed or was made available to authorities,” the statement read.
The OSAA added that it remains “fully cooperative with all legitimate investigative bodies” and urged the public and media to rely only on verified information and official documents.
