Senator Pia Cayetano criticized National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag over his alleged response during the shooting incident at the Senate on Wednesday, claiming he told lawmakers that there was nothing the agency could do because its personnel were no longer stationed there.

In a Facebook Live video on Friday, May 15, Cayetano recounted how Senator Loren Legarda called Matibag while gunshots were being heard near their location inside the Senate premises.

“Tinawagan niya si Director Matibag na over here po, nakausap niya na maayos kinakausap ni Senator Loren. Sabi niya, ‘Melvin, binabaril, nagbabarilan na dito, pumuputok na dito. Anong gagawin mo? Tulungan mo kami’ Something to that effect.‘Yun sinabi niya,” Cayetano said, recalling Legarda’s plea for assistance.

According to Cayetano, Matibag responded by saying, “Wala akong magagawa. Wala ako diyan. Wala kami diyan. Pinaalis kami diyan.”

Cayetano said the response shocked her, especially given the tense situation at the time.

“When I heard that, medyo napareact ako kasi I'm like, ‘What?’ Nagtawag kami. Remember, nagpuputukan sa likod namin, madilim yung ilaw. Ito ka, naghahanap ka ng lifeline, tapos ang sagot sa'yo is, ‘wala kami magagawa, wala kami dyan,” she said.

Moreover, the senator compared the experience to calling the police for help and being told that nothing could be done.

“So, I was so taken aback na, ha? Ha? Like, kung kayo [ang] nag-dial ng police, tapos ang sagot sa'yo, wala kami magagawa. Yun yung feeling ko,” she said.

”I may be a senator, but I'm a human being. I'm a woman, I'm a mother, may mga anak ako. And in those circumstances, I was scared. So tawagan mo yung tao with the hope na may gagawin for you,“ Cayetano emphasized.

Cayetano also claimed she confronted Matibag over the phone, telling him to “do your job,” after allegedly receiving no guidance or reassurance from the NBI chief.

“So when I heard that reaction… I was like, ‘What? You do something. Do your job.’ Yun yung sinagot ko sa kanya. Tapos sinigawan niya ako. Ang sagot niya sa akin is, ‘Wag mo akong sigawan,’” she said.

The senator questioned why Matibag allegedly failed to provide basic safety instructions during the incident, such as advising them to stay away from windows or turn off lights.

Cayetano later cited an interview in which Matibag reportedly confirmed that NBI personnel were no longer at the Senate premises at the time of the incident.

“Gusto niyang i-prove na wala sila sa Senado because probably because there already was info na NBI 'yung tumitira,” she said.

She said the pullout of NBI personnel had supposedly been discussed during a Monday meeting with newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, two days before the incident.

“Sabi din niya, pahuli nyo. Pahuli niyo yung mga nagpaputok. Ako huhuli? Kaya ka nga tinawagan ni Senator Loren eh. Humihingi nga kami ng tulong sa iyo. Tapos sasabihin mo, ipahuli niyo? Yung sure may OSAA kami. Humihingi nga kami ng tulong. Mahirap bang intindihan mo?” she said.

According to Cayetano, Matibag could have explained the situation differently and offered to redeploy personnel if needed.

“So, kung gusto mo naman sabihin na, "Nako po, wala akong tao dyan kasi pinaalis niyo kami. Please let me know kung magpapabalik ako ng tao, magpapaabang ako. We will be there if you need us."

“Basically, ang gusto mo lang paratingin sa amin is, ‘Basically, ang gusto mo lang paratingin sa amin is, "Pinaalis nyo kami, bahala kayo sa buhay nyo kung pagbabariling kayo dyan,” she said.

Cayetano also contrasted Matibag’s alleged response with that of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, whom she said immediately assured them that he would respond to the situation.

On that note, tinawagan namin si [DILG] Secretary [Jonvic] Remulla. Ganoon din yung boses ko. Sabi ko, Seth, do something. Do your job.

“Alam mo, sagot niya sa amin, "I'll be there, ma'am. I'll be there. I will be there. Don't worry. Don't worry." Pupunta na ako dyan. Ang laki namang deperensya nung sagot na ganun. Diba? Diba? Basic lang. "I'll go on. I'll move on." So ulitin ko, before I go on, kaya lang kami tumawa dahil humihingi kami ng support,“ she noted.

She also said she contacted Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon during the incident for assistance and coordination, despite his not being part of law enforcement.

Cayetano continued that Dizon later called back and informed her that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted to speak with the Senate President, which she contrasted with what she described as the lack of assistance from Matibag.