National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Wednesday defended the agency’s exercise of police power and raised concerns over the Senate’s move to cite NBI agents in contempt following a tense confrontation inside the chamber complex earlier this week.
Speaking on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Matibag said NBI operatives were carrying out a “valid warrant” when the incident occurred, stressing that enforcement actions fall under the bureau’s inherent police power as part of the executive branch.
Matibag said he had ordered a temporary withdrawal of NBI personnel from the Senate premises after learning that Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had sought protective custody from the chamber.
“Ang naging desisyon na lang para bumaba yung tensyon, mabawasan yung gulo ay stand down na lang muna at irespeto yung posisyon ng Senado being a body of the executive,” he said, adding that he instructed the team leader to pull out
However, as agents were leaving the building, they were stopped by Senate security personnel for allegedly lacking required QR code clearance, he said.
Matibag said he later received information that some NBI agents might be detained under a contempt order issued by the Senate, a move he questioned.
“Hindi naman yata tama yun. Kasi we're just enforcing the valid warrant. It's an exercise of the police power ng NBI which is [an] inherent power of the government,” he said.
He added that the situation escalated when agents were prevented from exiting, which he warned could constitute illegal detention.
The confrontation on Monday erupted at a Senate entrance after Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) personnel attempted to block NBI agents who had earlier been cited in contempt for pursuing and attempting to arrest dela Rosa.
The standoff led to a scuffle, during which an OSAA staff member was briefly taken toward an NBI vehicle before being retrieved by colleagues. The staff member sustained facial injuries and was brought back inside the Senate.
Matibag later arrived at the Senate and was expected to meet with its new leadership to address the incident and clarify the bureau’s actions.
