Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778712882310viber_image_2026-05-14_02-16-53 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lawyer Israelito Torreon provided digital evidence to confirm the senator’s location, showing videos and photos of Bato Dela Rosa taken at 12:13 a.m. inside the building. <em>Courtesy of Israelito Torreon via Bea Cuadra, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, dismissed conspiracy theories on Thursday that the shooting incident at the Senate was a &quot;diversion tactic&quot; to allow the senator to escape the premises.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/watch-bato-dela-rosa-seen-inside-senate-after-shooting-incident-0140">WATCH: Bato dela Rosa seen inside Senate after shooting incident</a></div><p>Addressing the media shortly after midnight, Torreon provided digital evidence to confirm the senator’s location, showing videos and photos of Dela Rosa taken at 12:13 a.m. inside the building.</p><p>The lawyer flatly rejected claims that the incident was orchestrated to facilitate the senator&#x27;s exit.</p><p>&quot;Ito kasi yung crime scene,&quot; Torreon said, referring to the area where the incident occurred while showing pictures on his phone. “So fake news yung mga diversion-diversion [tactic], di po totoo yan.&quot;</p><p>When asked if the senator had managed to slip out during the chaos, Torreon replied, &quot;Ang dami naming pictures. Gusto mo makita?&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/13/-everyone-safe-after-shooting-incident-at-senate-2212">&#x27;Everyone safe&#x27; after shooting incident at Senate; probe underway</a></div><p>He confirmed that the senator has no plans to leave his current location.</p><p>“He has never left the Senate premises all along.&quot;</p><p>According to Torreon, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla personally arrived at the Senate to manage the situation.</p><p>&quot;He personally conducted a clearing operation with the new Senate President,&quot; Torreon stated.</p><p>He described the process as a meticulous sweep of the facility,</p><p>“Iniisa-isa niya pag check yung lugar. Building per building. Yung room. Dinaanan niya yung mga room.&quot;</p><p>Torreon confirmed that he spoke and shook hands with the Secretary, though he could not confirm if the Secretary and Dela Rosa spoke directly.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/14/senate-timeline-what-happened-on-may-13-2026-0040">SENATE TIMELINE: What happened on May 13, 2026</a></div><p>Despite calls for the senator to leave the Senate to avoid further compromising the institution, Torreon maintained that his client is standing his ground.</p><p>&quot;I think he already stated his reasons why he would not, he would avail of the Senate Protection Resolution that was issued by the new majority,&quot; Torreon said.</p><p>The Senator was reportedly staying in his office for an extended period following the disturbance, and his legal team insists he will remain there under the protection of the Senate’s standing resolution</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Xa_SXDHoG8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5GClfJA98j8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HFDAN1hOPZk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The lawyer flatly rejected claims that the incident was orchestrated to facilitate the senator's exit.</p>

The lawyer flatly rejected claims that the incident was orchestrated to facilitate the senator's exit.

Dela Rosa legal counsel denies 'diversion' allegation as senator remains inside the Senate

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Dela Rosa legal counsel denies 'diversion' allegation as senator remains inside the Senate

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 14, 2026 07:04 AM PHT

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Senate

Israelito Torreon

Senator Bato Dela Rosa

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