Was the Senate gunfire incident a planned distraction to pave the way for the escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa?

Both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also want to find out amid speculations on social media that the gunfire incident was orchestrated to allow Dela Rosa to escape any attempt to serve the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We’d rather not draw a conclusion, but this will be part of our ongoing investigation,” said NBI director Melvin Matibag.

For his part, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., has committed a thorough investigation into the gunfire incident as he revealed that the Pasay City police, backed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) was already tapped to conduct the investigation to shed light on what really happened.

“We assure all our kababayan of a thorough, objective, and exhaustive investigation of this incident. Our goal is clear: follow the evidence wherever it leads,” said Nartatez.

“We are working closely with the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to ensure that no stone is left unturned. This is a matter of national security and public trust,” he added.

Nartatez said the police investigators were instructed to secure and preserve all available CCTV footage, radio communications, and entry logs that may help establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Mistah

Social media was also filled with speculations about the role of the newly-appointed Sergeant-At-Arms, retired general Mao Aplasca who was a classmate of Dela Rosa at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Aplasca is a member of the PMA Class 1987 but he was reported to have been an original member of the PMA Class 1986, the batch of Dela Rosa.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, Nartatez assured that everything will be investigated to ferret out the truth.

“I’m a graduate of Philippine Military Academy and when it comes to organization of course, what I learned was that as an investigator, let no person deter you from the truth and to ensure that justice is done. And we will ensure that,” said Nartatez.

Based on the initial investigation revealed by Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro, it was Aplasca who fired the first shot after spotting an NBI agent who was securing a part of the GSIS building.

Question of access

Police confirmed that a driver for NBI was arrested after being accused as among those who instigated the assault at the Senate building.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the NBI driver was collared right in the area where the gunfire incident happened, the second floor of the Senate building.

Seized from him, according to Tuaño, were live ammunition of 5.56 or M15 magazine. He is now facing a case relating to violation of Republic Act 10591, alarm and scandal, grave threats and direct assault.

Matibag said the arrested suspect is not an NBI employee but a volunteer driver for the agency.

But how did theat driver enter the Senate building when the establishment was supposed to be in a lockdown?

“That is one of the angles being raised because with the tight security, how was he able to gain access in that area,” said Tuaño.

“The chief of police of Pasay City was instructed to look into all angles and get his statement as to why he was able to enter the Senate building,” he added.

Tuaño said an initial review of the CCTV showed that the arrested suspect was aming the individuals spotted inside the Senate.

"But as to whether or not he fired shots, this will be known from the official report of the ACG (Anti-Cybercrime Group),” said Tuaño, adding that the arrested suspect was also subjected to a paraffin test.