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Emmanuel Tupas - The Philippine Star
May 30, 2026 | 12:00am
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano raises his voice during a press briefing at the Senate on May 14, 2026 as he responds to questions on whether the gunfire incident inside the Senate could be considered an "attack."
Ryan Baldemor / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — Police investigators might also look into the possible role of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano in the gun-related incident at the Senate, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday.
Remulla raised the possibility as he wants to know who ordered suspended Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) chief Mao Aplasca to arrest somebody.
Before the shooting incident on May 13, Aplasca told reporters the Senate building would be placed under lockdown and they would arrest somebody. Remulla said it has been lingering in his mind who gave the order to Aplasca.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said the shooting incident and Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s subsequent escape were related, an assessment which Remulla agrees with.
Apart from Sen. Robinhood Padilla, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said other senators belonging to the majority bloc are being investigated for Dela Rosa’s escape.
The CIDG has referred a complaint for obstruction of justice against Padilla and five other people for allegedly helping Dela Rosa leave the Senate building despite being surrounded by thousands of police officers.
“All of them. Yes. The records of investigation have been forwarded to the DOJ (Department of Justice). They prosecute, we produce the evidence,” Nartatez said.
Flood probe
Senate President Cayetano went on a rambling, no-holds barred Facebook Live video yesterday to condemn the “Solid Bloc 11” for plotting a leadership coup and to announce the resumption of the Senate’s flood control mess inquiry.
Cayetano said instead of his sister Sen. Pia Cayetano – who chairs the anti-graft committee – it will be vice chair Sen. Rodante Marcoleta who will issue notices on Monday to invite resource persons for a hearing on Thursday.
Cayetano said he led a majority caucus over lunch, which decided that a subcommittee be formed to continue the probe on the flood control scandal.
Majority Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Francis Escudero were investigated for their role in the flood control mess after their names were mentioned in last year’s Blue Ribbon inquiry then led by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.
It remains to be seen who else will be implicated in the corruption scheme during the resumption of the hearing, this time led by Marcoleta.
“It will be impartial and we want the whole truth and not only some truth,” Cayetano said.
He assured the public that the Senate under his leadership would remain independent. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab
