The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are looking into the possibility that the shooting incident at the Senate on Wednesday evening may have been "staged."

According to PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez and NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag, investigators are considering all possible angles as part of the ongoing probe.

“That is part of the ongoing investigation. Ipinasok naman ‘yan,” Matibag said during a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, May 14.

He added that the NBI and PNP are jointly conducting a review of available evidence, including CCTV footage and forensic findings.

“Rereviewhin din natin ‘yung footages kung may mga CCTV at we will use po ‘yung ating mga forensic capabilities para malaman natin kung ano po talaga ‘yung nangyari,” he said.

When asked directly whether authorities believe the incident may have been staged, Matibag declined to draw conclusions while the investigation is ongoing.

“Gaya po ng sinabi ko, ’yan po ay bahagi pa ng ongoing investigation. Ang maaari lang po namin mailahad sa inyo ay yung inilahad din ni Usec.[Claire] Castro — ’yung factual kung paano po nangyari. We rather not draw a conclusion sa isang ongoing investigation,” he said.

“But rest assured that when we have the final result of the investigation, ipapaalam po natin ito sa publiko,” he added.

For his part, Nartatez said the PNP is coordinating closely with the NBI, which will lead the investigation.

“On the part of the PNP, nagpapasalamat ako nandito ang ating director NBI na as much as Philippine National Police, siya po ang magli-lead ng investigation dito,” Nartatez said.

He also stressed the need to determine who was armed and which security personnel were present during the incident.

“We need to account [for] kung sino ang may armas and sino ang security forces na nandoon. Meron tayong GSIS building security, and nandiyan na rin ang NBI,” he added.

The commotion at the Senate came after the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed the issuance of an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, whom the tribunal has identified as a suspect over his alleged role in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs.