The alleged “attack” on the Senate last week was nothing more than a chaotic security confrontation blown out of proportion, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified on Tuesday.
In a Malacañang press briefing alongside Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., Remulla presented CCTV footage, coordination documents, and a minute-by-minute timeline to debunk initial claims that armed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) operatives attempted to storm the legislative complex.
“All evidence points there’s no attack on the Senate,” Remulla declared.
The Palace briefing sought to dismantle the brewing “Senate siege” narrative that made headlines after gunshots were fired near the building. The tension erupted while authorities were attempting to serve an International Criminal Court-linked arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
According to Remulla, the NBI’s presence inside the neighboring Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound was neither clandestine nor unauthorized.
He presented official GSIS communications requesting NBI assistance, along with minutes of coordination meetings with the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA). These documents, Remulla noted, proved Senate officials were well-aware of the security activities and reinforcement works being done on the access points linking the GSIS and Senate premises.
Prior to the incident, GSIS personnel had already begun securing connecting entryways by installing bolts and reinforcements as part of heightened safety protocols.
The Interior chief also strongly refuted allegations that the NBI deployed agents in tactical assault formations. Reviewing the Senate CCTV footage during the briefing, Remulla highlighted that the operatives were wearing clearly identifiable NBI jackets and vests, moved casually through the corridors, and were merely conducting routine inspections of shared access areas.
“There were no NBI agents in tactical gear,” he stressed.
Remulla added that the footage showed zero offensive positioning or signs of an impending raid, only security personnel monitoring the common access points.
The situation turned critical shortly before 8:00 p.m. when Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca allegedly assembled Marines, PNP personnel deployed inside the building, and OSAA officers, giving them a command to “lock and load.”
Moments later, Aplasca reportedly confronted two NBI agents stationed near the Outdoor Canteen Hallway leading to the Kalayaan Garden, which connects the GSIS and the Senate. Between 7:46 p.m. and 7:49 p.m., Aplasca allegedly fired three warning shots. While the NBI agents took cover and returned fire as they retreated, Remulla emphasized that their commanding officer immediately ordered them not to engage further.
Malacañang had earlier dismissed the idea of a targeted raid on the upper chamber, with Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reiterating that the institution “was never under attack.”
Investigators have already requested Aplasca to surrender his firearm for ballistic testing, though the Senate official has yet to present himself to authorities.
Adding another twist to the investigation, officials showcased footage during the briefing of a sports utility vehicle reportedly registered under Senator Robin Padilla. The vehicle was allegedly utilized to help Dela Rosa slip out of the Senate premises while he was supposedly under protective custody.
The PNP has officially turned over its comprehensive incident report to Justice Secretary Frederrick Vida to aid the ongoing parallel investigation.
“Similar route, it will go to the panel, and it will all be evaluated. Compelling ang facts and we still have to verify and validate. We will check on the timelines. We will check on the source of the video. Kasi ang dulo, katotohanan lang,” Vida said.
(“Similar route, it will go to the panel, and it will all be evaluated. The facts are compelling, and we still have to verify and validate. We will check on the timelines. We will check on the source of the video. Because in the end, it’s all about the truth.”)