Marcos: No state forces in Senate shooting, no order to arrest Bato

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (Screengrab from Presidential Communications Office/facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday night said no state security forces were involved in the shooting incident inside the Senate complex and denied reports that government agencies had been ordered to arrest Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

In a recorded statement, Marcos said he personally monitored the situation for more than two hours and directly coordinated with law enforcement agencies following the incident.

The President said he immediately contacted Philippine National Police officials and later spoke with National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag to verify reports that armed personnel had entered the Senate premises.

“Tinawagan ko ang NBI at tinanong ko si Director Matibag, ‘Kayo ba pumasok sa Senado?’ Ang sabi sa akin, ‘Wala kaming instruction, sir’ (I called the NBI and asked Director Matibag, ‘were you the ones who entered the Senate?’ He said, we have no instruction, sir),” Marcos said.

He clarified that the uniformed personnel seen inside the Senate complex were regular security and police personnel assigned to the Senate, as well as members of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

“Walang pumasok na taga-labas na sundalo, militar, o NBI sa Senado (No uniformed personnel or NBI agents entered the Senate),” he said.

Marcos also said personnel from the NBI who had been near the Supreme Court area earlier in the day were ordered to leave before the incident unfolded.

The President assured the public that the government was not behind the disturbance and called for calm as authorities conduct parallel investigations.

“Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito (The government is not behind this),” Marcos said. “Kalma lang po. Asahan ninyo, ang gobyerno ninyo hindi gagawin ito (Let us all be calm. Trust that the government will not do something like this).”

The Palace statement came amid heightened tensions surrounding reports of an alleged International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Dela Rosa over the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

The Senate had earlier become the center of political controversy amid discussions on placing Dela Rosa under Senate protective custody, sparking debate over the scope of congressional authority and the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies.

Authorities have yet to release full details on the supposed shooting incident and possible injuries.

As the situation unfolded, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clarified that the Marine troopers deployed at the Senate were present solely to assist in security operations.

“The AFP maintains an institutional security detail at vital government installations, facilities, and landmarks. The military personnel seen inside the Senate building are Marine Security & Escort Group (MSEG) personnel detailed at the said institution for perimeter security,” according to the AFP.

It added that soldiers seen inside the building were called by the OSAA (Office of the Sergeant -At-Arms) to assist them in securing the facility.