National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag on Thursday said the agency has yet to confirm reports that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa may have already left the Senate premises following a gunfire incident on Wednesday, May 13.
In a Palace press briefing, NBI said the agency is still validating the information and urged that the matter be clarified with the Senate and its Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), which has direct oversight of movements within the premises.
“We have yet to validate kung ano po ‘yung report. Baka maganda po sa Senate po natin itanong... at sa OSAA din po dahil sila po ang makakakita talaga kung may aktwal talaga na paglabas o pag-alis po ni Sen. Bato,” Matibag said.
Dela Rosa has been under the protective custody of the Senate since May 11, 2026, amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.
Despite uncertainty over the senator’s whereabouts, Matibag said he would be saddened if reports of Dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate were proven true, especially after earlier developments during the incident.
“Malungkot po ‘yan dahil ‘yung pong usapan diyan should be honored dahil naniniwala ako na ang ating mga kagalang-galang na senador, sila po ang humingi ng ganun at ang pagkakaalam naman natin, poprotektahan nila hindi lang po si Sen. Bato kundi ‘yung ating mga batas at Konstitusyon na umiiral,” he said.
Earlier, the Senate secretariat reportedly confirmed to a senator that Dela Rosa had left the Senate building at around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14.
Matibag also rejected claims that the NBI committed “lapses“ in its handling of the situation, stressing that their actions were guided by operational requirements.
“Hindi naman siguro lapses; there's operational requirement,” he said.
He explained that the NBI has requested a complete copy of CCTV footage to clarify what transpired during the incident, noting that available videos only showed parts of a chase and commotion.
“Ang nakita na lang nating video 'yong takbuhan na lang, 'yong habulan. Hindi naipakita ro'n na magse-serve na ng warrant, kakausapin na po si Sen. Bato tinackle niya 'yong babaeng ahente kaya nagkaroon ng takbuhan. At no’ng nagdeklara po ang Senado na protective custody nila si Sen. Bato, minabuti po namin na irespeto ‘yung sinabi na ‘yun ng Senado,” Matibag said.
Matibag also cited a pending matter before the Supreme Court and internal instructions not to proceed with the arrest, citing concerns over maintaining peace and order amid rising tensions.
“Pangalawa... merong pending na kaso sa Supreme Court and the strict instruction is ‘wag arestuhin and at the same time ang gusto po ng ating pamahalaan ay i-maintain ang peace and order. Mataas na po masyado ’yung pagtatalo-talo, pag-aaway ng iba’t ibang tao,” he said.
“Ito namang [pangatlo], 'di pa naman validated kung talagang nakaalis na sa Senado [si Bato dela Rosa] at kung saan na nagpunta,” the NBI chief added.
