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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian on IED incident: No act of intimidation will distract the Senate

Gatchalian on IED incident: No act of intimidation will distract the Senate

Published Jul 27, 2026 01:16 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian made the statement after the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed it is now investigating after improvised explosive devices (IED) were found outside the Senate and Department of Justice (DOJ) hours before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Senate of the Philippines Building (MB file photo)
Senate of the Philippines Building (MB file photo)
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday, July 27 said the Senate won’t be cowed even in the face of external threats and intimidation.
Gatchalian made the statement after the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed it is now investigating after improvised explosive devices (IED) were found outside the Senate and Department of Justice (DOJ) hours before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). 
“We condemn in the strongest terms this apparent attept to sow fear near the Senate on the very day our institutions gather for the State of the Nation Address. No such act of intimidation will distract the Senate from its work for the Filipino people,” Gatchalian said.
According to the Senate chief, he has directed the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to coordinate fully with the PNP and its Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, which has already responded to the area.
 "I thank them for their swift action, and I am relieved that no one was hurt,” he said.
“I am calling on the PNP and all concerned authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial investigation into this incident—to determine who is responsible and what they intended to achieve,” he stressed.
Gatchalian said it is imperative that the perpeptrators are identified and held accountable under the law.
“We appeal to the public to remain calm and vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities,” he said.
In an interview, OSAA Chief Alfred Corpus said the Senate has intensified security after a suspected IED—a package containing a battery, clamp and brown powder—was found about 150 meters from one of its gates in Pasay City. 
According to Corpus, the package has bee been sent to Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) to determine whether the package is an actual IED.
As a result of this discovery, Corpus said the Senate will add more security personnel on the grounds and intensify its inspection of people entering and leaving the premises, as well as those who are outside the premises.

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