Manila, Philippines — May 19, 2026

Six days after gunshots echoed through the Philippine Senate, top government officials today released a comprehensive timeline of the May 13 incident, firmly stating there was no coordinated attack on the legislature.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Justice Secretary Frederick Vida, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. presented the chronology during a joint briefing. They described the event as a “gun-related incident” triggered by a confrontation involving Senate security forces and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents in the vicinity of the adjacent GSIS compound.

Key Points from the Official Timeline (May 13, 2026)

• Afternoon/Early Evening: Heightened security measures were already in place. GSIS implemented a red alert. NBI agents arrived at the GSIS Main Building around 6:17 p.m. for a security survey and inspection of vulnerable points, following a request from GSIS.
• ~7:00 p.m.: Senate security, led by Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, mobilized. The Senate went into lockdown.
• ~7:11–7:22 p.m.: The House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate.
• ~7:44–7:45 p.m.: Senate security forces moved toward an area near the outdoor canteen hallway/Kalayaan garden.
• ~7:45 p.m.: Gunshots were heard. Officials say Senate personnel fired first (described as warning shots), leading to a brief confrontation with individuals in the area. NBI agents did not enter the Senate building to arrest anyone or launch an attack.
• Later that night: NBI Director Melvin Matibag publicly stated that no NBI agents were involved in the shooting inside the Senate.

Authorities emphasized that evidence, including CCTV and ballistics, shows Senate security overreacted to NBI personnel who were present for legitimate security-related duties in the connected GSIS area. No one was injured.

Dela Rosa’s Escape

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa — the former PNP chief and key figure in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, who faces an ICC arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity — had been under the Senate’s protective custody. He left the premises in the early hours of May 14 (around 2:30 a.m.) in a white Fortuner/SUV linked to Sen. Robin Padilla. PNP has video evidence of the departure.

Dela Rosa remains at large. The NBI has leads on his whereabouts, and Sen. Padilla has been tagged as a “person of interest” in the escape investigation. Padilla has appeared in recent Senate sessions but has avoided directly confirming details.

Broader Context

The incident unfolded amid intense political turmoil, including:

• The Senate preparing to convene as an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte.
• Ongoing debates over the ICC’s jurisdiction and enforcement of the warrant against dela Rosa.
• Questions about Senate security lapses, coordination failures, and the institution’s role in shielding a senator facing international charges.

Some opposition figures have called the events “staged” or criticized the Senate leadership, while the government stresses due process and rule of law. Investigations by the DOJ, NBI, and PNP are ongoing, with culprits reportedly already identified in connection with the gunfire.

This remains a developing story with significant implications for Philippine politics, institutions, and international relations.