Malacañang on maintained that the Senate “was never under attack” following last week’s shooting incident involving National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents at the Senate complex.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the statement during a press briefing in response to concerns raised by Senator Imee Marcos, who earlier described the incident as an alleged “siege and firing of shots” by NBI personnel.
“Senate siege? Was it under attack? It was not. The Senate was not under attack. You can see that from the news, not only from the statements of the NBI and PNP (Philippine National Police). It was only the statement made by Senator Alan Cayetano,” Castro said.
“So, as far as we are concerned, as far as the government is concerned, the Senate was never under attack,” she added.
Castro said the position also reflects the stance of President Bongbong Marcos.
However, Castro declined to comment on speculation that the shooting incident may have been staged.
“I cannot say anything about that. I cannot make a judgment if it is staged, orchestrated, planned. But you can assess that from the reports also made by some journalists, some reporters,” she said.
The shooting incident occurred last Wednesday amid efforts to serve an arrest warrant against Senator Bato dela Rosa in connection with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
Senator Imee Marcos earlier called on the President to suspend three NBI officials, including Director Melvin Matibag, over the incident.
Despite this, the Palace maintained that NBI agents committed no lapses during the operation.
“There was no failure on the part of the NBI agents. Hinarang sila (they were blocked),” Castro said.
President Marcos earlier denied that the government orchestrated the shooting incident and said he did not issue any instruction to arrest Dela Rosa.
