MANILA — The Southern Police District (SPD) clarified that no firearm was recovered from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) driver arrested at the height of the shooting incident at the Senate premises.
According to SPD Public Information Officer P/Lt. Margaret Panaga, the suspect was arrested based on reports from security personnel at the scene.
“Batay sa ulat ng mga security personnel sa lugar, inaresto itong nasabing indibidwal dahil sa paglabag sa ilang umiiral na batas kabilang ang illegal possession of ammunition at iba pang kaugnay na paglabag na nagdulot umano ng disturbance sa area,” Panaga said.
Despite the arrest, Panaga said authorities did not recover any firearm from the suspect.
The items recovered from the suspect included a sling bag containing live ammunition, magazines loaded with live ammunition, a blue jacket with NBI marking, a polo-shirt with NBI logo, and a badge.
Investigators are still investigating whether the suspect fired a gun.
“Yun ang tinitingnan ngayon sa isinasagawang pag-i-iimbestiga kasi siyempre may mga na-recover tayong ammunitions,” Panaga said.
Authorities are still awaiting the results of forensic tests, including paraffin testing, in coordination with the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO).
NBI RELEASES BODYCAM FOOTAGE
Meanwhile, the NBI released body camera footage taken from the GSIS compound showing the tense moments during the exchange of gunfire on Wednesday.
In the video, an NBI agent can be heard telling colleagues to take cover and move away from a van as gunshots echoed across the compound where NBI personnel had deployed.
Another agent said they were surprised by the encounter and fired back after Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca allegedly fired the first shot.
Aplasca earlier admitted to firing a warning shot, but NBI Director Melvin Matibag questioned why the situation escalated into what he described as indiscriminate firing.
“Doon siguro nagkakaroon ng problema kasi ‘pag tinignan natin what is the ultimate cause, it’s because of that warning shot,” Matibag said.
“Admittedly, ‘yung aking ahente na isa, nag-warning shot din siya. Parehas sila nag-warning shot which leads to doon sa mga kasama ni General Aplasca, naging indiscriminate firing na. Kaya napakaraming bullet holes doon sa area kung saan nagbarilan,” he added.
The NBI revisited the site on Friday, where bullet marks were seen on a post close to the spot where an agent had taken position.
The bureau is requesting CCTV footage from the Senate and the GSIS as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities continue to determine the sequence of events and the individuals responsible for the shooting.