Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday pushed back against attempts to implicate minority lawmakers in the security breach at the Senate, condemning the use of the violent incident for political leverage.
The statement follows a reported shooting at the Senate complex on the night of May 13, occurring amidst the high-stakes effort to serve an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
Hontiveros clarified that minority senators, their staff, and general employees had already vacated the premises following the adjournment of the session.
“Wag naman nilang gamitin sa pamumulitika ang pag-uwi ng ating Senate employees, who are doing an honest day’s work.”
Hontiveros, who was already in the province for a scheduled conference at the time of the gunfire, expressed dismay over the violence occurring within the legislative halls.
She described the event as a “desecration” of the institution.
“Unfortunately, the Senate, The People’s House, the hallowed space where laws are made and rights are defended, was turned into a shooting range. That is desecration, not just of our walls, but of the trust placed in that institution.”
Reports indicated that Dela Rosa eventually left the complex at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, hours after the shooting.
While Senate security officials remain silent pending guidance from leadership, Hontiveros urged her colleague to face the legal process directly to prevent further instability.
She called for a transparent investigation into the security failure, insisting that the public deserves the truth regarding how a shootout occurred within the heavily guarded compound.
“We need to get to the bottom of this. The Filipino people deserve a full, independent, and unobstructed accounting. Walang takipan.”