Sen. Jinggoy Estrada pushed back against criticism of his remark about the CCTV footage during the Senate shooting incident, saying his statement was misinterpreted and taken out of context.
Estrada said his instruction to “keep” or “secure” the CCTV footage was in line with orders from Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano to preserve all potential evidence related to the shooting inside the Senate building on Wednesday night.
“Ang pinaka-importante, ma-secure kaagad yuung CCTV. Dun natin malalaman sino talaga nag-umpisa ng pagpapaputok dito sa gusali ng Senado,” Estrada said in a social media post, stressing the need for a thorough investigation.
The senator issued the clarification after a video circulated online showing him telling Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, “Itago niyo yung CCTV,” during a hearing. The remark drew scrutiny, with some interpreting it as an attempt to conceal evidence.
Estrada said the context of the exchange was clear and straightforward, noting that Loren Legarda had been questioning Aplasca about whether the incident was captured on CCTV footage.
According to Estrada, his statement was meant to ensure that the recordings would be preserved for investigation, not hidden from authorities.
He further expressed disappointment over what he described as the “twisting” of his remarks by some media outlets and online platforms, which he said led to malicious interpretations among the public.
Estrada called on members of the media to uphold the highest standards of fairness, professionalism and accuracy in reporting, emphasizing that the shooting incident was a serious matter that warranted careful and factual coverage.
Earlier, in an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, Mao Aplasca acknowledged that he fired the first shots during the standoff, describing them as warning shots directed at the opposing side, who were reportedly personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation.
He also said that no CCTV footage captured any movement from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) and the Marines during the incident.
