Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (Ret.) Maj. Gen. Edgardo Rene Samonte has officially resigned, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced on Monday, May 11, during a plenary session.
During the Senate session, Cayetano said Samonte submitted his resignation letter amid rising tensions in the Senate following a confrontation involving personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa inside the Senate premises.
The resignation was formally read on the Senate floor in the middle of the session, as lawmakers discussed the incident that reportedly involved a chase inside the building’s corridors.
According to accounts presented during the session, NBI operatives allegedly attempted to approach or serve an order involving Dela Rosa while he was inside the Senate. CCTV footage shown to senators reportedly captured individuals following the senator through a hallway, believed to be near a fire exit connecting the floors of the building.
The incident escalated after Dela Rosa was reportedly escorted into a room, which was then secured by Senate security personnel. Reports said NBI operatives attempted to enter the room but were blocked, preventing them from reaching the senator.
Following the incident, Dela Rosa was placed under Senate protective custody upon the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
Senator Joel Villanueva moved to cite in contempt the individuals involved in the alleged attempt to detain or approach Dela Rosa within Senate grounds.
Cayetano later announced that the Senate would hold in contempt the NBI personnel allegedly involved in the pursuit and ordered the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to take them into custody and detain them within the Senate premises.
The NBI has yet to issue a full public statement addressing the allegations as of press time.
Former Senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV also figured in discussions during the session after raising claims regarding an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant and alleged coordination involving law enforcement agencies, which added further political tension to the issue.
