In a video statement, President Marcos clarified that there was no instruction for uniformed personnel to arrest Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.
Armed members of the Philippine National Police wearing bulletproof vests and carrying long firearms are seen at the Senate premises on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, following a lockdown imposed by the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Multiple gunshots were heard inside the Senate building, where Sen. Ronald dela Rosa sought refuge amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Photo by Ryan Baldemor, The Philippine STAR
Hours after the shooting incident at the Senate on Wednesday night, May 13, President Marcos appealed for calm and claimed that government forces were not behind the melee.
In a video statement, Marcos clarified that there was no instruction for uniformed personnel to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
The senator has a pending arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity tied to the previous administration’s drug war.
Marcos clarified that the policemen and soldiers seen on video footages are assigned in the Senate while the armed personnel in civilian clothes are under the legislative chamber’s sergeant-at-arms.
“The government did not do it,” Marcos said, adding that no outsider was able to enter the Senate.
“We will get to the bottom of this. We will identify who is behind this melee.”
According to Marcos, he instructed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to leave the Senate premises after the Supreme Court had issued a resolution directing all parties in Dela Rosa’s case to comment on the petition seeking to block the senator’s arrest.
“They (NBI) complied. When I talked to (NBI) Director (Melvin) Maribag, he said there was no NBI personnel there, all of us are in the office,” the President added.
Marcos said he has spoken to Senate President Alan Cayetano and they agreed “to tell our people all to calm down and we will get to the bottom of this.”
“Be calm. Be assured that the government would not do such a thing,” he said.