EDITORIAL - Not just FYI

In a press conference yesterday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. released video footage and provided a detailed timeline of the tumultuous events at the Senate on May 13.

That was the day Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, a former PNP chief, surfaced after six months in hiding to cast his vote in the leadership change that installed pro-Duterte Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate chief.

Dela Rosa narrowly evaded being caught by the National Bureau of Investigation so he can be surrendered to the International Criminal Court.

The ICC wants Dela Rosa as a “co-perpetrator” in the case of crimes against humanity faced by former president Rodrigo Duterte for his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa left the Senate in a sport utility vehicle of Sen. Robinhood Padilla at 2:30 a.m. on May 14, hours after gunfire erupted on the second floor of the chamber.

Remulla and Nartatez, in their press conference yesterday, said investigation based on the video footage from the Senate premises as well as witness testimonies showed that contrary to the claims of Cayetano, there was no attack on the chamber, with most of the 44 fired cartridges recovered at the scene came from inside the Senate instead of from outside.

Suspended acting Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca has admitted firing the first “warning shot” in challenging NBI agents, who according to administration officials were in the building to secure the premises of the Government Service Insurance System, the neighbor and landlord of the Senate.

Can over 30 gunshots constitute warning shots? Fortunately, no one was injured in that hail of bullets fired inside an enclosed public space, and supposedly directed at agents of the law.

Authorities are said to be studying possible charges that may be filed in connection with the gunfire and Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate premises.

After yesterday’s press conference, the nation awaits appropriate action on the results of the investigation. Several laws appear to have been violated. That report on the investigation can’t be meant simply as FYI, for your information.