By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Sunday urged the public to remain calm and refrain from engaging in speculations as he assured the public of a fair and comprehensive investigation into the Senate gunfire incident.
PGen. Nartatez issued a statement as social media and other platforms are flooded with theories and speculations about the incident on May 13.
“Just like everyone, we in the PNP are also interested to know everything about this incident. We are looking into all the angles based on facts and all the pieces of evidence that we have and we can get in order to come up with a clear picture of what really happened in the interest of truth, accountability and justice,” Nartatez said.
Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) acting chief Mao Aplasca admitted to firing a warning shot after seeing armed individuals, who he later said were National Bureau of Investigation personnel, within Senate jurisdiction.
He said OSAA personnel first challenged the armed individuals, asked them to identify themselves, and ordered them to lower their firearms, but they did not do so.
Police personnel were deployed at the Senate premises at the time of the incident. Nartatez, who went to the Senate following the gunfire to check on the senators, said police obtained significant pieces of evidence and testimonies that could shed light on the incident.
One suspect was arrested and police also obtained copies of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
Nartatez said concerned government agencies have been cooperative in the conduct of the investigation.
“We acknowledge the urgency of providing all our kababayan definite answers to their questions over the incident, answers that are based on facts and as a result of meticulous investigation,” he said.
“The Filipino people deserve to know the truth, and we in the PNP commits to release the investigation in the soonest possible time.” (PNA)
