Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday investigators found no evidence of an attack on the Upper Chamber during the May 13 shooting incident inside the Senate complex, as authorities released details of the timeline leading to the gunfire.
Speaking at a Palace briefing with Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., Remulla said a six-day investigation involving CCTV footage, affidavits, and interviews showed that “all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate.”
‘Gun-related incident’ timeline
Authorities described the incident as a “gun-related incident” involving the discharge of firearms inside Senate premises at around 7:45 p.m. on May 13.
Investigators said the Pasay City police initially handled the case before forwarding records to prosecutors on May 14, while the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group later expanded the probe and submitted findings to the Department of Justice.
Police presented a chronology of events beginning at 5:23 p.m., when Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa allegedly appealed for public support on social media amid reports of a possible arrest.
The Senate adjourned session at 5:58 p.m., while the Supreme Court had not issued a temporary restraining order sought by Dela Rosa as of 6:14 p.m., officials said.
Authorities said Senate Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) chief Mao Aplasca allegedly announced at 6:57 p.m. that “somebody will be arrested,” followed by a Senate lockdown at 7:05 p.m.
Officials added that articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives were prepared for transmittal at 7:11 p.m. and delivered to the Senate at 7:22 p.m.
Gunshots were heard at around 7:45 p.m., triggering confusion after reports circulated that National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents had entered the Senate premises. The NBI later denied involvement in any assault operation.
Authorities said security coordination between the Government Service Insurance System and Senate officials began as early as May 12.
Investigators said GSIS officials implemented heightened security measures and requested NBI assistance to secure entry points connected to the Senate building after Dela Rosa publicly called for a “people power” movement.
Officials said three NBI agents initially arrived at the GSIS building on May 13, but a later CCTV reviewed 29 NBI personnel in the area.
‘Lock and load order, cover fire response’
Remulla stressed that none of the NBI agents wore tactical gear or carried assault equipment.
Authorities said CCTV footage showed NBI agents inspecting areas connected to the GSIS building between 6:52 p.m. and 7:01 p.m., shortly before the gunfire erupted.
Remulla said Aplasca later ordered operatives, including Philippine Marines and police personnel, to “lock and load” before proceeding toward the hallway leading to the veranda where NBI agents were positioned.
Authorities said Aplasca allegedly fired three shots after an NBI agent identified himself, prompting what officials described as “cover fire” from the agent, who believed he was under attack.
Remulla also dismissed conspiracy theories surrounding drilling noises heard before the shooting, saying these were caused by GSIS maintenance personnel reinforcing doors and installing additional bolts and steel cabinets at access points between the Senate and GSIS buildings.
“So, hindi gulatan ito (there were no surprises),” Remulla said. “They were duly informed.”
Nartatez also disclosed that CCTV footage allegedly showed Dela Rosa and Senator Robin Padilla leaving Senate premises around 2:30 a.m. on May 14 aboard a white Toyota Fortuner reportedly owned by Padilla.
NBI: Volunteer driver was unarmed
Meanwhile, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said volunteer driver Ramil Masaya, also known as “Mel Oragon,” was unarmed when he was arrested following the incident.
Matibag said Oragon had no firearm in his possession and may have tested positive for gunpowder residue through contact with Senate security personnel or from being pinned to the floor near where shots were fired.
“When he was arrested from GSIS, dinala siya sa Senate grounds sa second floor. Idinapa siya kung saan mismo nagpaputok nang nagpaputok ng baril ‘yung mga OSAA (They pinned him down right where the OSAA personnel kept firing their guns),” Matibag said.
Matibag also maintained that Masaya was arrested without a warrant inside the GSIS premises and not inside the Senate.
“I’ve seen the video. He was arrested in the premises of GSIS. He was arrested without a warrant. Napagsuspetsahan lang siya (He was tagged as a suspect),” he said.
The NBI chief said the bureau had no operation inside the Senate and that agents present at the GSIS complex were there upon the request of GSIS management to secure entry points leading to the Senate building.
Matibag also criticized Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, saying command responsibility should apply over Aplasca’s actions during the incident.
“If that is the case, sino ba ang unang nagpaputok? Wala namang nagpaputok doon, baka hindi nagkaratratan ng paputok doon. Sino ang may command responsibility kay Sergeant-at-Arms? Who was the head of the Senate?” Matibag said.
(Who fired the first shot? If no one fired a gun, there wouldn’t have been a shootout. Who has the command responsibility over the Sergeant-at-Arms?)
He added that “feudal thinking” should not prevail in discussions surrounding accountability.
Acting OSAA chief named
Following Aplasca’s preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman, Manuel Parlade was designated officer-in-charge of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
The Ombudsman imposed a six-month preventive suspension on Aplasca while conducting a fact-finding investigation into the shooting incident.
Separately, the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau requested from the Senate a list of media personnel who were inside the Senate premises during the May 13-14 incident.
In a letter addressed to Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau Director Michael Caber, the bureau said the request was part of its ongoing investigation into the “shooting incident/armed confrontation” that led to the Senate lockdown.
Senator Risa Hontiveros also filed a resolution commending members of the media for their professionalism and courage during the incident.
“In an information landscape increasingly compromised by systemic online disinformation, covert influence operations, and coordinated inauthentic behavior, the impartial reporting of the Senate Media serves as an essential pillar of truth, protecting the integrity of our democracy during times of national crisis,” Hontiveros said.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, meanwhile, said the shooting incident influenced his decision to join the Senate minority bloc.
“For the first time ever, there was gunfire here and chaos ensued. This has never occurred in the history of this body,” Zubiri said.
“Thus, I made a decision. I made a decision independently, alongside my family, that changes are necessary,” he added.
Editor’s Note: Headline for this story has been updated. Originally posted with the title “Incident timeline shows Senate was not ‘attacked’.”
