Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, that there was no attack on the Senate following a shooting incident on the evening of May 13, 2026. During a press conference in Malacañang, Remulla and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. presented findings from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) investigation.
Investigation Findings
Remulla stated that all evidence points away from an attack. The incident occurred amid tensions regarding the impending arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Before the shooting, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms head Ma. O Aplasca ordered his men, along with Philippine Marines and police personnel, to assemble and issued a “lock-and-load” directive. Moments later, Aplasca opened a door leading to the GSIS building and confronted a man seated nearby.
“According to the testimony of General Aplasca himself, he opened the door. He asked ‘sino ka?’ The agent identified himself as NBI. Shortly thereafter, he fired three shots toward the vicinity of the NBI agent,” Remulla explained. The NBI agent took cover behind air conditioning units and returned fire, believing he was under attack. However, the NBI agents did not engage further and retreated from the location. Remulla emphasized that NBI agents never entered the Senate premises.
Ballistic Evidence
Nartatez reported that investigators recovered 44 fired cartridges, which ballistic examinations determined came from only four firearms. Three of the shooters were from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), including Aplasca, and one was from the NBI. “We did not see any bullet hole going inside the Senate building,” Nartatez said. All spent shells were accounted for and traced to the two OSAA personnel and the NBI agent.
Remulla expressed belief that an unidentified fired cartridge came from Aplasca’s firearm. He noted that Aplasca refused to surrender his weapon to the CIDG. “We asked General Aplasca to appear and submit his firearm but he did not appear,” Remulla said.
Context of the Incident
Prior to the shooting, a drilling sound was heard on the wall dividing the Senate and GSIS premises. Remulla explained that on May 13, the Senate and GSIS maintenance management held a meeting where the Senate was informed about fortifying the door between the buildings for security purposes. “So this was not a surprise because conspiracy theories were abounding, but they were fully informed,” he said. Remulla stated that it remains unclear whether the incident was staged.
The full CIDG report has been submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is conducting a parallel investigation. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the DOJ will examine not only the shooting but also events before and after.
Political Context
Senator Dela Rosa made a surprise return to the Senate on May 11 after a six-month absence, coinciding with a leadership change that removed Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and installed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate president. NBI agents armed with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant attempted but failed to detain Dela Rosa. He was given protective custody by the Senate until legal remedies were exhausted, but he left the Senate premises hours after the shooting. Remulla confirmed that the vehicle used by Dela Rosa to leave was owned by Senator Robin Padilla.
