Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro has cleared the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from accusations that it conducted an assault operation at the Senate on Wednesday night, May 13, 2026, in a bid to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
First Shots Fired by Senate Security
In a press conference in Malacañang, Castro stated that based on official reports, Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) head retired major general Mao Aplasca fired the first shots during the incident inside the Senate building on Wednesday.
“When the OSAA saw that there were NBI agents at the GSIS area beside a blue guard, they immediately saw that the OSAA was already geared up, wearing vests and preparing for an operation. When they reached the bridge within the GSIS premises, the OSAA questioned the NBI agent who was just seated together with a GSIS blue guard,” said Castro.
“They identified themselves as NBI agents and when they stated their identities, Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca immediately fired a warning shot and, because of that, the NBI agent was also forced to fire a warning shot,” she added.
Background of the Incident
The building rented by the Senate to house its offices is within the GSIS complex in Pasay City, making the GSIS headquarters and the Senate just a bridge and a door away. Castro explained that the key to the access door from the GSIS compound to the Senate premises is in the possession of the OSAA.
She said at about 6 p.m., hours before the gunshots were heard at the Senate, GSIS general manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso sought the assistance of the NBI to maintain peace and order in its building, prompting the NBI to deploy personnel.
NBI’s Explanation
During the same press conference, NBI Director Melvin Matibag explained that the drilling sound heard in the Senate before the shooting incident was due to NBI agents securing a door that led from the Senate to the GSIS building. Matibag said Veloso wanted to close that area because different people were already going in and out and the GSIS building and its employees could no longer be secured.
“That was their primary concern,” Matibag said. “So if you can see in the video, they were drilling and then they blocked it with metal cabinets so that the area could no longer be passed through,” he added.
PNP Investigation
Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said an in-depth investigation into the incident is being completed. “We are investigating such that we can go into the bottom of this case. The personalities involved should be accounted for and investigated, not only in the NBI but of course including the security personnel at the building of the GSIS, as well as the GSIS building being occupied by the Senate,” he said. Nartatez assured that the PNP will implement the law without fear or favor.
