Palace: Senate sergeant-at-arms fired first, NBI 'volunteer' fired back

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday, May 14, said Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Police Major General Mao Aplasca fired the first warning shot in Wednesday night's gunfire inside the Senate, which prompted a member of the National Bureau of Investigation to fire back.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro gave the account at a press briefing with Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez and National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag.

Castro said no assault was carried out by the NBI on the Senate and that no order was issued to arrest Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. The NBI agents were assigned to the GSIS building beside the Senate at the request of GSIS, as they were asked to help secure the premises, she said.

Matibag identified the suspect tagged by police in the Senate gunfire as Mel Oragon, an individual that Matibag says is not an "official NBI employee" but a "volunteer" working as a driver for NBI agents.

It is the practice of the NBI to have "force multipliers" during operations due to a lack of personnel, the NBI chief explained.

Matibag also reiterated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had not issued any directive on the arrest warrant against dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over the Duterte administration's drug war.

The NBI has yet to verify reports that dela Rosa had left the Senate, where he has been under protective custody since Monday, he said.

This is a developing story. Check this page for updates.