The Senate Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) head, retired Major General Ma. O Aplasca, fired the first shots during the shooting incident inside the Senate on Wednesday evening, May 13, 2026, according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro.
In a press conference, Castro cleared the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from accusations that it conducted an assault operation in the Senate to arrest Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.
"When OSAA saw that there were NBI agents at the GSIS beside a blue guard, OSAA immediately noticed that they were already geared up, wearing vests and preparing for an operation. Upon reaching the bridge within the GSIS premises, OSAA asked the NBI agent, who was just sitting together with a GSIS blue guard," Castro said.
"They identified themselves as NBI agents, and upon stating their identities, Sergeant-at-Arms Ma. O. Aplasca immediately fired a warning shot. Because of that, the NBI agent was also forced to fire a warning shot," she added.
The building housing the Senate is rented from the GSIS, making the GSIS and Senate offices separated only by a bridge and a door. Castro said the OSAA holds the key to the access door from the GSIS building to the Senate premises.
Around 6 p.m., hours before gunshots were heard, GSIS General Manager Jose Arnulfo "Wick" Veloso sought NBI assistance for maintaining peace and order in its building, leading to the deployment of personnel.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag explained the drilling sound heard before the shooting: "They were removing the lock because the access from the Senate going to GSIS is controlled by a key kept in the Senate. What he (Veloso) wanted was to close that area because different people were already going in and out. The place and employees could no longer be secured -- that was their primary concern."
"So if you see the video, there was drilling, and metal cabinets were used to block the area so it could no longer be passed through," he added.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said an in-depth investigation is being completed. "We are investigating such that we can get to the bottom of this case. The personalities involved should be accounted for and investigated, not only in the NBI but including the security personnel at the GSIS building and the GSIS building occupied by the Senate," he said.
Nartatez assured that the PNP will implement the law without fear or favor.
