Senate won’t pursue probe into shooting incident — Gatchalian
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday that under his leadership, the chamber will no longer pursue an independent investigation into the gunfire incident last May 13.
Instead, the Senate will leave the probe to other authorities.
“Mas magandang iwan na lang sa DOJ (Department of Justice) ang investigation. (It is better to leave the investigation to the DOJ). We can not investigate ourselves,” Gatchalian told members of the media.
On May 13, shots were fired inside the Senate premises after National Bureau of Investigation agents were tasked to secure the entrance and exits of the Senate building connected to the Government Service Insurance System compound.
It was members of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, particularly their former head Ma.O Aplasca who fired the first few warning shots.
READ: DOJ probe of May 13 shooting shows Senate wasn’t under attack
During the Senate presidency of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, an investigation into the incident was sought.
According to DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida, citing the agency’s preliminary investigation, the actions of the Senate security personnel were “not justified.”
Vida also revealed that “many personalities involved are public officials,” but he did not disclose any names. /gsg
