SEC. REMULLA:
(0:19) mga Senador ngayon at nag pulong-pulong kami para makita talaga kung ano nangyari. The Chronology of events.
(0:30) 7:46 PM, Armed men tried to enter through the 2nd floor but were stopped by the OSAA. They had firearms with them but the OSAA fired a warning shot. They retreated at the back and started firing indiscriminately into the air.
(0:48) Now, we do not have a definite count of how many people tried to enter the building. Number two, there are no casualties. None. No one was hit, no one was wounded, no one was killed.
(1:01) Number three, we are in the process of determining who is behind this. We have instructed the GSIS and Senate building and Senate staff to secure all CCTVs. Our mission here, the President sent me here, number one, to secure the senators. There is no politics at this time. These times of turmoil, politics goes out the window.
(1:26) We all belong to one country and we all will lead one nation. The President has given strict instructions. Secure the senators, whoever they may be. Next, we are not here to arrest Senator Dela Rosa. In fact, we are here to protect him. Let that be clear. Let me make that very clear to his family. I repeat, we do not know who is behind this but we will find out. We have all the security footages.
(1:53) And I’m here with the Senate President to assure him that we are only doing this to secure them.
REPORTER:
(1:59) What’s the motive for this?
SENATE PRESIDENT:
(2:00) First and foremost, we thank God that everyone is safe. We’d like to thank the President, Secretary Teodoro, Secretary Remulla, who personally came here, Chief PNP Nartatez is here.
(2:14) So as you know, last Monday, nag request po tayo ng PNP just to make sure na yung investigation natin with NBI that there will be no untoward incidents. So at around 6.45, 7 o’clock, some senators got warnings na umuwi na. At nagtataka kami what that meant.
(2:36) So sabi ko, please don’t believe that because the last thing anyone wants is yung gulo. So at around that time, we got information. About an hour before that, we got information para tingnan dito yung articles of impeachment.
(2:49) So we decided to extend our focus and to magmeeting na how we can prove by actions yung sinabi namin that this change in leadership is not about politics, is not about impeachment.
(3:02) So at around that time na sinabi ni Secretary Remulla, we heard noises, akala ni Senator Villanueva, paputok, fireworks. And I even went to the window at pinagalitan nga ako ng sister ko that we don’t need that.
(3:15) But after few minutes, may paputok na naman, then we smelled. And then I was already watching TV, hindi ko na ma-contact. And then tumawag yung OSAA na, sir, confirmed na may shooter. Hanggang dun lang. By that time, tumawag na si Secretary Remulla that, calm everyone down, but we’re on our way. Make sure na papasukin kami.
(3:36) So we agreed on a objective, comprehensive investigation. I expressed to the President, who was a Senator before he became President, to Secretary Remulla that of course the safety of my colleagues is very important, but yung integrity din ng Senado. The building is more than a building. In fact, it’s not even a building. It’s GSIS. But it represents the democracy of our country.
(4:03) So I’d like to thank you. Kayo din sa media. I know you’re also confused but you decided to stay. So in the next few days lang make sure na hindi tayo ma-infiltrate until we get to the bottom of this. So the OSAA and the PNP under the direction of myself and Secretary Remulla is now going floor by floor. And we’ll do the same sa kabilang building.
(4:24) We won’t say any more operational details but we’ll try to make sure na safe. I’ll be here tomorrow. That’s if I go home tonight. I’ll be here and we’ll brief you further. So we’ll stop there. Pasensya lang po kayo. We’ll stop muna sa details. Mahirap po na iba-iba magpa-interview.
(4:47) So I’m directing the staff not to tell a lie, not to hold, to tell the whole truth and to make sure na we cooperate with the PNP in their investigation.
REPORTER:
(4:57) Who are the shooters and how many, sir? How many shooters, sir? How many?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(5:02) We still have to determine through CCTV footage sino po ilan talaga sila. So we cannot answer that. We can only give you the details.
REPORTER:
(5:10) Paano po nakapasok?
(5:12) Sir, OSAA yuna nagpapatok, warning shot.
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(5:15) OSAA gave a warning shot and in their retreat they started firing into the air. That’s as far as we know. That is not conclusive. We still have to review the footages.
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(5:25) We’ll stop at the word suspect kasi pag nilabel namin yan, meron ng conclusion na rin yung iba. But initially we told Secretary Remulla po sino ang suspect po, ano suot po, ano ang sinasabi nilang po sino sila.
REPORTER:
(5:40) Perceived NBI daw? Perceived NBI, sir?
ASC STAFF:
(5:43) No questions, ah
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(5:46) It’s okay questions but forgive us because we don’t want to say something na hindi mabawi. If government did this to government, we are in trouble.
(5:59) And I want that there is a presumption of clarity na hindi ito gagawin ng kahit anong agency sa atin. Having said that, from the President down to the Secretaries, ilan na rin silang tumawag, assured us magiging independent at no holds barred investigation.
REPORTER:
(6:15) Perceived NBI po ba yung nakapasok? Perceived NBI ba, sir?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(6:17) Please do not ask question that are leading.
REPORTER:
(6:20) Pero sabi po kasi ni Secretary Mendoza, sir, inaudible.
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(6:22) Please do not ask question that are leading.
REPORTER:
(6:25) How about Sen Bato? Senator Bato Dela Rosa, how is he, sir?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(6:31) Senator de la Rosa has been informed that we are doing a sweep of the building. He has informed us that he wants to rest in his chambers. He is safe, he is with his security personnel.
(6:42) He has been informed of our activities. We have assured him that there is no warrant of arrest on us to be served. I am here to ensure the integrity of the Senate and the protection of all the Senators.
REPORTER:
(6:57) Wala motive pa kayo nakita?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(6:59) Again, you cannot ask questions… inaudible.
REPORTER:
(7:03) Even kung paano po nakapasok, sir?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(7:04) Inaudible… we have to… Inaudible.
REPORTER:
(7:08) Wala rin nag-pursue, wala rin nag-umabol.
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(7:10) Protection lang ang number 1… inaudible.
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(7:14) One reason we cannot tell you. Ongoing pa. There’s two buildings. So it’s ongoing and we don’t want to also telegraph doon sa investigation. But we’re all doing what we can. And the OSAA is there, and the PNP, the chief PNP binigyan ng specific instructions ni SIL.
REPORTER:
(7:34) But the Senate is safe?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(7:37) We are sweeping all the floors. We have asked those non-essential personnel to leave.
And we will investigate each and every person in that…inaudible… that are non-essential here.
REPORTER:
(7:48) May pasok po ang Senado bukas?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(7:50) So far yes. I’ll decide mamaya. But so far, kasi dumating ang articles of impeachment at may meeting coordination ang lahat ng heads. Having said that, may I also appeal to any of you or anyone in the Senate, kung may videos kayo na you think will help the investigation, submit it to us. Kasi maraming allegation, maraming denial.
REPORTER:
(8:12) We have FB Live, sir.
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(8:14) Kung meron kayong videos, please submit it to the OSAA for investigation.
REPORTER:
Inaudible
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(8:21) No one is under custody.
REPORTER:
(8:23) Pero persons of interest meron?
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(8:25) Wala pa rin.
REPORTER:
(8:26) How about the articles of impeachment? Kamusta? Was it secure?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(8:31) It’s secure. Nakaalis na rin ang mga taga-house. I just assure you kung ano sa Constitution, ano sa rules namin, may precedence din to.
(8:38) This is the first time, maraming speculation, pero meron po yan. But I will be interpreted to be talking politics especially… inaudible. So I just assure you kung ano ang rules, ano ang Constitution, ano ang batas, ano ang precedence, susundin natin.
REPORTER:
(8:52) Is the Senate safe?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(8:55) We’re making sure that it’s now. But I can tell you especially for me that I feel na kargo ko ang lahat ng empleyado at lahat ng mga senador, lalo po yung walang kamalay-malay dito. I don’t know how to describe. At first, if you get a call from me at this point in time, you wouldn’t know that’s an emergency. That’s why I have to do it quickly.
REPORTER:
(9:22) So categorical, safe na ang Senado?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(9:25) Hindi namin masabi kasi… I mean it’s secured. All senators are secured
REPORTER:
(9:32) How many senators are inside, sir?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(9:39) I think we were complete sa majority.
REPORTER:
(9:42) 13? Except Chiz, 12?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(9:44) I don’t think anyone from the minority. Parang wala na ata. Unless 12 na sa kusina.
REPORTER:
(9:49) You are all here right now? Yung 12, nasa loob pa?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(9:53) Yes.
REPORTER:
(9:53) Except for Sen Bato. How about Sen Robin?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(10:00) Pagod yung dalawa kasi. They’ve been here the last 3 days.
REPORTER:
(10:05) Magsisiuwian po ba kayo?
SP ALAN PETER CAYETANO:
(10:08) We will coordinate muna with the PNP.
SEC. JONVIC REMULLA:
(10:10) Ako na bahala. It is my duty to ensure the safety of all the senators. Whether it is safe to go home or not, I will make that call. I will make sure they are safe to go home.
