Armed men were seen at the premises of the Philippine Senate after consecutive gunshots were heard on the evening of May 13, 2026. The source of the gunfire remains unknown and is currently under investigation. Earlier on Wednesday, the National Bureau of Investigation confirmed it may serve an arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa at any time today, in connection with a crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III said Senate security may have violated standard rules of engagement in a gunfire incident last Wednesday but said their chief had to make a quick decision during a tense moment.
Torre — a former chief of the Philippine National Police who led high-profile operations, including the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte — said authorities must determine the full context behind the incident.
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“Umamin naman si Gen. [Mao] Aplasca na nag-warning shot siya… kung 'yung PNP rules of engagement ang titingnan mo, totoo 'yun na bawal ang warning shot. Pero hindi naman PNP si Gen. Aplasca,” Torre said.
(Gen. Mao Aplasca has admitted to firing a warning shot... Under PNP rules of engagement, warning shots are not allowed in that situation. But Gen. Aplasca is no longer PNP.)
Aplasca, a former police general, was previously with the Office for Transportation Security. He also served as PNP director for operations before retiring from the police force.
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“Siguro sa assessment niya noong oras na ’yun, necessary ang warning shot to prevent further escalation,” Torre said.
(It may be that, in his assessment at the time, a warning shot was necessary to prevent further escalation)
Aplasca said he fired the warning shot when an armed man, who he said was already on Senate premises, identified himself as an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation.
The NBI has said it did not have personnel on the Senate side of the Government Service Insurance System complex. It said its people were securing the GSIS side as requested by Jose Arnulfo "Wick" Veloso, the state firm's president.
“Na-de-escalate nga at nakita natin, in the end, wala namang namatay. So lahat ng iyan ay imbestigahan na lang at alamin kung anong puno’t dulo niyan,” Torre added.
(It was de-escalated and, in the end, there were no casualties. So, this should all just be investigated to find out what happened)
The Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, and the Senate's Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms have announced investigations into the incident.
The PNP has been conducting its own investigation since tension subsided and the Senate's second floor was cleared on Wednesday night.
Aplasca has been placed on preventive suspension without pay for six months.
Asked whether the police should have been tasked with securing the GSIS complex instead of the NBI, he said units should be deployed "in accordance with the capabilities and the mandate of the unit."
Torre made the remarks on the sidelines of an anti-bullying event in Pasig City.
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