The Philippine National Police (PNP) has formally submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the results of its investigation into the controversial gunfire incident that erupted inside the Senate complex on May 13 amid political tensions surrounding Senator Ronald dela Rosa and reports of a possible arrest linked to an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. personally turned over the investigation report to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida during a Palace briefing attended by Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

According to Remulla, investigators spent six days reviewing CCTV footage, gathering witness testimonies, and securing sworn affidavits tied to the late-night chaos that triggered fears of an armed assault on the Senate. (Inquirer.net)

“For the record, all evidence points to the fact that there was no attack on the Senate,” Remulla declared, directly disputing earlier claims that the legislative complex had come under siege. (Inquirer.net)

The PNP report reportedly reconstructs the sequence of events before and after the discharge of firearms, extending up to around 2:30 a.m. on May 14 when Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Robin Padilla were seen leaving the Senate premises. Authorities said the initial investigation was handled by the Pasay City Police before the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) expanded the probe. (Inquirer.net)

The incident unfolded during an extraordinary political standoff involving dela Rosa, who had sought refuge inside the Senate after resurfacing following months of public absence amid reports of an ICC arrest warrant connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.

International media reports described scenes of confusion inside the Senate as gunshots rang out while security forces and lawmakers scrambled to secure the compound. At the height of the incident, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano publicly claimed the Senate was “under attack,” though investigators now say evidence does not support that assertion. (The Guardian)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered both the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the PNP to conduct a full investigation into the incident after gunfire erupted amid fears of escalating political unrest linked to the widening Marcos-Duterte conflict. (The Guardian)

Justice Secretary Vida declined to identify possible suspects or discuss potential charges, saying the DOJ panel is examining the “totality of circumstances” beginning May 11 through May 14.

“As to who the culprits are or what cases may eventually be filed, I do not want to preempt the findings of the panel,” Vida said.

The DOJ is expected to determine whether criminal or administrative liabilities may arise from the chain of events that transformed the Senate into the center of one of the country’s most volatile political confrontations in recent years. (Inquirer.net)