The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has officially distanced itself from the individual arrested following Wednesday night’s chaotic shooting inside the Senate building, clarifying that the suspect was never an organic member of the bureau.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag identified the suspect as Mel Oragon. While initial police reports labeled Oragon as an “NBI driver” involved in the gunfire that sent the Senate into a state of panic, Matibag clarified that an internal verification proved the suspect was absent from the agency’s official roster.
“Hindi (siya) opisyal na empleyado ng NBI.”
According to Matibag, Oragon’s presence at the scene was as a “volunteer” driver for a team deployed to secure the neighboring Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound.
The incident occurred amidst a high-stakes political standoff triggered by rumors that an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant was being served against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The shooting, which took place around 7:50 p.m., intensified the fear of those trapped inside the building during a security lockdown. When questioned about how a civilian volunteer managed to possess a weapon within the premises, the NBI chief offered a brief explanation.
“Pinahawak lang.”
Matibag insisted that the firearm had merely been handed to Oragon while the team was moving through the area, and that the suspect had no actual operational authority or control over the weapon.
The violence erupted at a time of extreme tension for Dela Rosa, the former PNP chief who is accused of being a co-conspirator alongside former President Rodrigo Duterte in the ICC’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity. Oragon remains in custody after being subdued by Senate security personnel.