In the wake of a leadership suspension ordered by the Ombudsman, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the anti-graft body to also suspend National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag over his alleged handling of the May 13 Senate shootout.
Cayetano accused the NBI chief of fabricating details surrounding the violent confrontation between legislative security and federal agents within the GSIS compound, where the Senate rents its headquarters.
“Let me just appeal to the Ombudsman: Suspend also the NBI director because he is more a suspect than General Mao dito.”
The Senate leader’s appeal followed a directive from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who placed acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca under a six-month preventive suspension without pay. The move aims to secure an unhindered investigation into the incident, during which Senate guards reportedly fired 27 warning shots at NBI personnel.
Cayetano fiercely disputed the bureau’s account of the standoff, claiming Matibag misled President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. regarding the deployment of heavily armed agents in tactical gear.
According to Cayetano, these forces were sent to disrupt legislative proceedings and intimidate lawmakers, disregarding established coordination agreements to stand down.
Conversely, Matibag previously minimized the bureau’s presence, maintaining that only a single operative, “Agent Francisco,” fired back with six warning shots after being targeted by heavy gunfire from the Senate security forces.
Ombudsman Remulla has committed to a thorough review of the unprecedented clash, confirming that all individuals at the scene—including senators, security details, and members of the press—will be subjected to questioning.