The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clarified on Sunday that its planned subpoena for Nancy dela Rosa is part of an investigation into the mastermind behind the recent Senate shooting, not an attempt to locate her husband, fugitive Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag dismissed claims that the bureau is pressuring the senator’s wife to track him down while he evades an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant linked to drug war killings.
“Let me be clear on one point: the NBI’s consideration of a subpoena directed at Ms. Nancy Dela Rosa has nothing to do with locating Senator regional Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa,” Matibag said. “We are not asking her where her husband is,” he added.
Investigating a Potential Diversion
Instead, investigators are focusing on a text message Nancy sent to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, which was read publicly after the May 13 shooting incident inside the Pasay City legislative complex.
In the message, Nancy reportedly stated that her husband used the chaotic situation to “escape” because his presence was endangering other lawmakers.
The NBI is now checking if the gunfire was intentionally organized to help the senator flee.
“If that account is accurate, it raises a serious question: was the Senate shooting used as a deliberate diversion to facilitate the Senator’s departure?” Matibag noted.
Authorities have already established that suspended Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca initiated the gunfire.
“Whoever ordered General Aplasca must be made equally accountable — because that person put senators, Senate staff, and members of the media in harm’s way,” Matibag emphasized.
Clearing the Air with Critics
The NBI’s clarification comes after harsh backlash from Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, who called the bureau’s approach lazy (“trabahong tamad”) and a sign of weak intelligence gathering.
Matibag reached out to Lacson directly to clear up the misunderstanding regarding the subpoena’s actual intent.
“His observations are well taken, and I welcome them in that spirit,” Matibag concluded.