May 20, 2026
MANILA – “All evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate.”
This was what Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday, six days after a “gun-related incident” shook the Senate.
During a Palace briefing, Remulla maintained that no agents from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) set foot at the Senate on May 13, and that they were only at the premises of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), beside the legislative chamber.
“For the record, all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate. I would like to repeat – all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate,” he declared.
The Senate building sits adjacent to the GSIS building, both of which are inside the GSIS complex.
Remulla’s statement supports Palace earlier assertion that there was never an attack at the Senate, a stark contradiction from Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s claims.
Why were there NBI agents at GSIS?
Remulla explained that GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso sought help of the NBI to “fortify” the security at the GSIS premises after Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa asked his supporters to stage a prayer vigil at the Senate.
The request was made by Veloso to protect billions of pesos worth of artworks and other valuables housed at the GSIS, in case tensions escalated in the nearby Senate.
“The GSIS contains billions of pesos of worth of artworks that are displayed on their walls. Had there been an overflow of people going to GSIS, the losses would have been incredible,” the secretary said.
“So, he [Veloso] found it better for them to secure the doors so that there would be no commotion going inside to the GSIS building,” he narrated.
As to why Veloso sought assistance from the NBI instead of the PNP, Remulla said police personnel were already guarding the Senate, and Veloso believed it would be more prudent to request help from the NBI.
The secretary said 29 NBI agents arrived at the GSIS premises and inspected the outdoor canteen hallway leading to Kalayaan garden.
The secretary said 29 NBI agents arrived at the GSIS premises.
“Please take note that none of the NBI agents had tactical gear with them. They were dressed as NBI agents clearly identified, set in place, but none of them had tactical gear with them,” Remulla pointed out, referring to footage from Closed-Circuit Television presented during the briefing.
Twenty-seven NBI agents left the area at 7:02 p.m., while two remained behind.
“There are two NBI agents left there. Agent Darwin Francisco and Antonio de Leon. So, you can see there, there are two of them, they are with the uniform of NBI and just put a chair there by the stairs,” Remulla said.
27 NBI agents left the GSIS premises at 7:02 p.m., while two remained behind.
Remulla said that around 7:44 p.m., Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca called in Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms operatives, including the PNP and Marines, and “gave the order to lock and load,” an idiomatic term used so that guns would be prepared for firing.
“So, in his order, you could see the marines cocking their guns, so they were locked and loaded. After [that], he proceeded to the hallway leading to the doorway where the NBI [agents] were previously,” he narrated.
From 7:46 to 7:49 p.m., “clouds of smoke and possible muzzle fire” were seen in CCTV footage during the confrontation between NBI agents and Senate security personnel.
Cover fire, “do not engage”
Remulla noted that it was Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca who first fired three shots toward the vicinity of the NBI agents, noting they were not fired directly at the agents.
“And because he was being fired upon, he discharged a cover fire. Take note that the coverfire was because he was under the impression that he was under attack,” he said.
“Coverfire” refers to gunfire directed toward a threat area to suppress the opposing side so other officers can move or take position safely.
Remulla said that the cover fire was not aimed at the Senate.
“At this point the officer-in-charge instructed the agents ‘do not engage, do not engage”. So, they retreated; he was waiting for them. That is not a gun fire, he was reiterating, the instructions were, ‘do not engage’,” he said.
A total of 44 spent cartridges were recovered following the shooting incident. Remulla said authorities cannot yet conclude whether the incident was staged. /apl /mr