The shooting incident inside the Senate last May 13 could have been avoided had the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) properly communicated and coordinated, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Friday.
Lacson said NBI agents were stationed at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound where the Senate is located, upon the request of GSIS General Manager Jose “Wick” Veloso.
“As far as the operational aspect of what happened is concerned, if there had been coordination or communication between the two sides, the shooting could have been avoided,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, in an interview on True FM.
In Filipino: Lacson: Kawalan ng Koordinasyon ng NBI at OSAA, Ugat ng Insidente ng Pamamaril sa Senado
Citing his conversation with NBI director Melvin Matibag, Lacson said the NBI agents were mainly at the GSIS side to help prevent untoward incidents due to the demonstrations outside the Senate.
He added the agents had no instruction to arrest Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and who had been staying at the Senate since May 11.
Instead, he said the agents were instructed to monitor him should he leave the Senate.
“In case dela Rosa leaves the Senate, the agents were instructed not to arrest but simply monitor, follow him and ask for further guidance when he’s already outside the Senate premises,” Lacson said.
For now, Lacson said it is important to retrieve and view the CCTV footage showing the succession of events in Wednesday’s incident “from start to finish.”
Lacson also reiterated that the one with the means, opportunity, and motive is likely behind the incident. This should be the guide of investigators handling the case, he added.
“More on the Senate incident last night: He who has the MEANS, OPPORTUNITY and MOTIVE is the most probable suspect,” Lacson, a seasoned police investigator who served as Philippine National Police chief from 1999 to 2001, said in a post on X Thursday.
More on the Senate incident last night: He who has the MEANS, OPPORTUNITY and MOTIVE is the most probable suspect.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 14, 2026
While Lacson was thankful that there were no reported casualties or injuries, he raised three key points for investigators to consider as they look into the incident.
“Chaos, guns fired inside the Senate building. Checked my staff, they’re all safe. Thank God no reports of casualties or injuries. Next thing to do is investigate to find out who fired his/their gun/s, at whom and most importantly, the motive,” he said.
Chaos, guns fired inside the Senate building. Checked my staff, they’re all safe. Thank God no reports of casualties or injuries. Next thing to do is investigate to find out who fired his/their gun/s, at whom and most importantly, the motive.
— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) May 13, 2026
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Lacson: Kawalan ng Koordinasyon ng NBI at OSAA, Ugat ng Insidente ng Pamamaril sa Senado
Maaaring naiwasan ang insidente ng pamamaril sa loob ng Senado noong Mayo 13 kung nagkaroon ng maayos na komunikasyon at koordinasyon ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at ang Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) ng Senado, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Biyernes.
Ani Lacson, may mga naka-deploy na ahente ng NBI sa Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) compound kung saan matatagpuan ang Senado, pero ito ay sa kahilingan ni GSIS General Manager Jose “Wick” Veloso.
“Pwede nating i-confine muna as far as the operational aspect na nangyari Wednesday night sa dalawang ahensya. Kung nagkaroon ng isang malapit na coordination or communication sa dalawang panig, palagay ko naiwasan ang pagpapaputok ng baril,” aniya sa panayam sa True FM.
Batay sa kanyang pakikipag-usap kay NBI Director Melvin Matibag, sinabi ni Lacson na ang mga ahente ng NBI ay nasa GSIS side upang makatulong sa pag-iwas sa anumang hindi kanais-nais na insidente dahil sa mga demonstrasyon sa labas ng Senado.
Dagdag niya, wala umanong utos sa mga ahente na arestuhin si Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, na may arrest warrant mula sa International Criminal Court at nananatili sa Senado mula Mayo 11.
Sa halip, inatasan lamang silang i-monitor ito sakaling lumabas ng Senado.
“Ang instruction sa kanyang tauhan, sundan, i-monitor kung sakaling lalabas wag hulihin. Sundan lang at hingan ng guidance kung malayo sa Senate premises si Bato just in case aalis ng Senado,” ani Lacson.
Sa ngayon, sinabi ni Lacson na mahalagang makuha at masuri ang CCTV footage na magpapakita ng succession of events “from start to finish.”
Muli niyang iginiit na ang may kakayahan, oportunidad, at motibo ang posibleng nasa likod ng insidente. Ito ang dapat na gabay ng mga imbestigador, dagdag niya.
“More on the Senate incident last night: He who has the MEANS, OPPORTUNITY and MOTIVE is the most probable suspect,” ani Lacson, na beteranong imbestigador at naging hepe ng Philippine National Police mula 1999 hanggang 2001, sa isang post sa X noong Huwebes.
Bagama’t nagpapasalamat siya na walang nasawi o nasaktan, iginiit niya ang pangangailangang matukoy kung sino ang nagpaputok, kanino ito itinutok, at kung ano ang motibo.
“Chaos, guns fired inside the Senate building. Checked my staff, they’re all safe. Thank God no reports of casualties or injuries. Next thing to do is investigate to find out who fired his/their gun/s, at whom and most importantly, the motive,” aniya.
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