Dennis Gaviola

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Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag has fired back at Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, denying claims that the bureau attempted to “break down” the Senate during last week’s chaos at the GSIS complex.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2056327762865250532&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-05-18T16%3A43%3A03.191004%3A6c78386f-a881-44c1-b151-e1d9f1e8fa80%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=0199c7284f637d1a49bd48bf5ff3ea2b76c076da&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:485px;height:635px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2056327762865250532"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Matibag stressed that the agency has no intention of undermining the legislature and is focused solely on enforcing the law.</p><p>“Bakit? Gusto ba namin tibagin ‘yung Senado? Gusto lang namin ipatupad ‘yung batas. Saka, it&#x27;s not about Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, it&#x27;s about the Senate and the judicial system… That&#x27;s an institution enshrined in the Constitution. We respect it,” Matibag said.</p><p>On May 11, the NBI attempted to serve an ICC warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who was then placed under Senate protective custody.</p><p>On May 13, NBI agents were deployed to secure the GSIS compound when a gunfire incident happened between the NBI and the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).</p><p>Matibag said the bureau will fully cooperate in the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).</p><p>On Monday, CIDG National Capital Region investigators visited the NBI office to take statements from agents and members of the media who were deployed at the GSIS complex.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2056317441412882899&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-05-18T16%3A43%3A03.191004%3A6c78386f-a881-44c1-b151-e1d9f1e8fa80%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=0199c7284f637d1a49bd48bf5ff3ea2b76c076da&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:485px;height:587px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2056317441412882899"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>“We participated in the ongoing investigation of CIDG so lahat ng tao na nagpunta doon sa GSIS at saka kung ano mga tanong nila, sasagutin ng NBI. We are very transparent on this one,” Matibag said.</p><p>“There is already a panel created by the DOJ and by Ombudsman Boying Remulla. So, we will submit everything to them and sila na ‘yung magpo-process,” he added.</p><div><strong>MESSAGE TO CAYETANO</strong></div><p>Asked for a message to Cayetano, Matibag kept his response brief: “Good luck to him. He does it day by day. So tomorrow is another day for him.”</p><p>Matibag maintained that the shooting occurred inside the GSIS premises, contradicting Cayetano’s claim that they were attacked at the Senate.</p><p>He emphasized that the investigation is now in the hands of the DOJ and the Ombudsman.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DELA ROSA URGED TO FACE ICC WARRANT</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Matibag urged Dela Rosa to face the law following his departure from the Senate last week.</p><p>Dela Rosa has an outstanding warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the previous administration’s war on drugs.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2056343315378065714&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-05-18T16%3A43%3A03.191004%3A6c78386f-a881-44c1-b151-e1d9f1e8fa80%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=0199c7284f637d1a49bd48bf5ff3ea2b76c076da&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:485px;height:611px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2056343315378065714"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Matibag said the senator, who is a former law enforcement officer, should submit himself to the legal process and respond to the ICC warrant.</p><p>“Galing siya sa law enforcement… it&#x27;s better na harapin niya ‘yung warrant niya, mag-submit siya. Harapin niya ‘yung kanyang pananagutan sa batas,” Matibag said.</p><p>The NBI earlier attempted to serve the warrant but was unable to do so due to tensions and chaos at the Senate during the operation.</p><p>Matibag also said voluntary submission would help restore public confidence in institutions, noting that controversies surrounding the incident have affected perceptions of the Senate.</p><p>“‘Yung sinasabi na nasira ‘yung Senado, that&#x27;s the only way also para ‘yung tao rin bumalik din ‘yung magandang pagtingin sa Senado,” he added.</p><p>The NBI chief stressed that the ICC warrant remains active and that Philippine law enforcement agencies are obligated to monitor developments and coordinate under existing commitments to the international tribunal.</p><p>“Nasa wanted list siya ng ICC. So, we have a commitment to the International Criminal Court. As a law enforcement, naka-monitor tayo,” Matibag said, adding that operational details on monitoring efforts are being withheld to avoid compromising law enforcement activities.</p><p>Matibag also noted that Dela Rosa’s camp has filed a petition before the Supreme Court, saying authorities will await the court’s ruling while continuing coordination among agencies.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE BODYCAM FOOTAGE RELEASED</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, the NBI has released new body-worn camera footage showing that the arrested NBI driver linked to the recent Senate gunfire incident was not carrying any firearm and was in a different area when the shooting occurred.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-3&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2056369008040124428&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-05-18T16%3A43%3A03.191004%3A6c78386f-a881-44c1-b151-e1d9f1e8fa80%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=0199c7284f637d1a49bd48bf5ff3ea2b76c076da&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:485px;height:587px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2056369008040124428"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><p>Authorities earlier said no firearm was recovered from the suspect, though ammunition were allegedly found in his sling bag.</p><p>The NBI volunteer also tested positive for gunpowder nitrates, but officials cautioned that this alone does not conclusively prove involvement in firing a weapon.</p><p>“Titingnan natin kung ano ‘yung circumstances beyond that. In the court, ‘yun namang pagiging positive not necessarily mean na nagpaputok or what. So, hintayin na lang natin,” Matibag said.</p><p>The NBI driver has since been temporarily released after posting bail on Monday.</p><p>He remains one of the subjects of an ongoing investigation by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).</p>

<p>National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag has fired back at Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, denying claims that the bureau attempted to “break down” the Senate during last week’s chaos at the GSIS complex.</p>

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag has fired back at Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, denying claims that the bureau attempted to “break down” the Senate during last week’s chaos at the GSIS complex.

NBI chief fires back at Cayetano, denies plot to ‘break down’ Senate

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NBI chief fires back at Cayetano, denies plot to ‘break down’ Senate

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 18, 2026 11:57 PM PHT

Read More:

NBI

CIDG

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano

Senator Bato Dela Rosa

Senate

ICC

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