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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider NBI volunteer driver nabbed after Senate 'shootout' tests positive for gunpowder

NBI volunteer driver nabbed after Senate 'shootout' tests positive for gunpowder

Published May 18, 2026 12:04 pm

At A Glance

  • The 44-year old man was earlier confirmed by the PNP to have been arrested right at the second floor of the Senate building where the gunfire emanated from.
  • Police earlier said that no firearm was confiscated from the arrested man.
Philippine National Police personnel pass through a cordon leading to the Senate session hall in Pasay City following the May 13 shooting incident. Security forces tightened access as investigators continued their probe. (Photo by Mark Balmores)
Philippine National Police personnel pass through a cordon leading to the Senate session hall in Pasay City following the May 13 shooting incident. Security forces tightened access as investigators continued their probe. (Photo by Mark Balmores)
The volunteer driver for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), who was arrested inside the Senate building right after the gunfire incident on May 13, yielded positive results when he was subjected to a paraffin test.
But Lt. Margaret Panaga, spokesperson of the Southern Police District, was quick to clarify that the positive paraffin test result does not necessarily mean that a person fired a gun.
What the paraffin test confirms, she said, is the presence of nitrate particles, which is present in gun powder.
Police investigators themselves are saying that there are some factors that contribute to testing positive to paraffin test, including being very near to a firearm when it was fired. 
“We are still conducting the investigation, we cannot yet provide conclusive details,” said Panaga when asked if the arrested person fired a gun during the gunfire incident that allegedly led to the escape of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
The 44-year old man was earlier confirmed by the PNP to have been arrested right at the second floor of the Senate building where the gunfire emanated from.
But the SPD earlier confirmed that no firearm was confiscated from the arrested man.
He, however, is facing charges of, alarm and scandal, tumults and disturbance of public order, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority or his agent, disturbance of proceedings, trespass to property and violation of Senate security and direct assault.
Panaga said that while no gun was seized from the man, he was still charge with violation of Republic Act 10591 as he yielded 30 pieces of bullets for M16 rifle and 9mm pistol.
He remains under the custody of the Pasay City Police Station.

Related Tags

Senate gunfire NBI paraffin test
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