Amid speculations and debates relating to the Senate gunfire incident on the night of May 13, a top official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) took note of some "unusual" things he observed at the course of the police investigation.

But DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla was quick to clarify that the investigation report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) does not have any conclusion on whether or not the gun-related incident—as what he wants to call it—was really staged as alleged by some conspiracy theorists.

In a press briefing at Malacañang Palace, Remulla, however, noted some odd things he observed from the CCTV footage and during the time he went to the Senate.

And it all focused on how the entire situation was handled by the  Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, retired police general MAo Aplasca. 

For instance, he said Aplasca would have taken into consideration the security of the people inside the Senate, particularly the media—meaning, he should have secured and taken them out of harm's way when he sensed that the Senate was under threat.

Instead, Remulla observed that Aplasca allowed the media to follow him and armed personnel of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms at a certain point before the gunfire was heard.

But before that, he said Aplasca was seen leading his men to wear tactical gear and even showed to the media that they were in the “lock and load mode” in preparation to arrest somebody.

“Take note. General Aplasca did it in full view of the press. He gave the order of the lock and load and they (media) asked them to follow. He allowed them to follow up to a certain point,” said Remulla.

“In normal situations, if there is a perceived confrontation, you will clear the building of all personnel because of a possible stray fire. However, he allowed them (media) to follow,” he added.

And during the incident based on the CCTV, Remulla noted that Aplasca appeared to have fired shots towards an area with no direct threat at him.

“Aplasca pointed the gun towards the window and tried to discharge the firearm, however, the gun jammed. He tried again, the gun jammed and then his aide fixed the gun for him,” said Remulla.

“Afterwhich, he discharged the firearm again. Mind you, there was nobody there. There were no shots being fired at them, okay,” he stressed.

Remulla also noted that once a retreat was done by supposed enemies, the mindset is to secure the entire Senate.

In this case, he said there was none.

“If you want to take note of the video, upon retreat, there was no order to secure the Senate. Because normally in a heat of the moment like that, your first order would be secure the premises,” said Rtemulla

“However, he (Aplasca) went straight out and then he went straight to the press and then he reported,” he added.

And when he arrived at the Senate, Remulla observed that there was no one securing the place where the supposed attempt to breach the Senate allegedly happened, “There was nobody securing the exact moment or the exact place where the incident took place.”

“Isn’t it odd that after an exchange of gunfire and if your mandate is to secure the building, there was no perimeter security introduced into the area,” said Remulla.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr has already submitted the investigation results to the Department of Justice, adding that they will leave to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida the next course of action.