A volunteer driver for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), arrested in the immediate aftermath of the May 13 Senate gunfire incident, has tested positive for nitrate particles following a paraffin test, police authorities revealed.
However, Southern Police District (SPD) spokesperson Lt. Margaret Panaga clarified that the findings are not yet definitive proof that the suspect discharged a weapon during the chaos, which allegedly facilitated the escape of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Panaga explained that while a paraffin test detects the presence of nitrates—a primary component of gunpowder—it cannot conclusively determine if a person pulled a trigger.
“We are still conducting the investigation, we cannot yet provide conclusive details,” Panaga said.
Investigators noted that external variables could skew the results, pointing out that individuals standing in close proximity to an exploding firearm can easily be contaminated by airborne nitrate residue.
The 44-year-old suspect was apprehended by police on the second floor of the Senate building, the designated origin point of the gunfire. Although the SPD confirmed that no firearm was recovered from the suspect during his arrest, law enforcement recovered a substantial cache of ammunition from his possession, consisting of 30 live rounds for an M16 rifle and a 9mm pistol.
Despite the absence of a confiscated firearm, the suspect is facing a string of criminal charges filed by authorities.
He remains detained at the Pasay City Police Station on charges of alarm and scandal, tumults and public disturbance, resistance and disobedience to an agent of a person in authority, disturbance of proceedings, trespass to property, violation of Senate security, direct assault, and illegal possession of ammunition under Republic Act 10591.