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'Wala akong pinaputok': NBI driver says he was unarmed, denies firing gun inside Senate

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

ABS-CBN News

<p>The 44-year-old NBI driver-volunteer arrested in connection with the May 13 Senate gunfire incident has broken his silence, maintaining he never carried or fired a weapon. </p><p>This developed as he was temporarily released from the Pasay Police Detention Facility after posting a P116,000 bail—funded through private donations—for charges of direct assault and violation of the firearms law.</p><p>Speaking from the National Bureau of Investigation Headquarters at around 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, where he gave his official statement to the PNP-CIDG, the driver broke his silence regarding the parallel investigation being spearheaded in coordination with the bureau.</p><p>“Wala po, wala akong pinaputok na anumang uri ng baril. Simula no&#x27;ng pumunta kami hanggang nakabalik po ako [sa NBI]. May video po na magpapatunay na wala po akong baril,&quot; he told reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/15/no-gun-seized-from-nbi-driver-arrested-in-senate-shooting-2259">No gun seized from NBI driver arrested in Senate shooting</a></div><p>According to the driver, who has been a volunteer since 2016 and an Army Reservist since 2012, while he has experience with guns, handling weapons during NBI operations is completely outside his duties.</p><p>He explained that on the day of the incident, he was merely instructed to return to the GSIS premises to retrieve a bag containing medicine left behind by an NBI agent.</p><p>“Nakabalik na kami ng office noon, nagkaroon ng kaunting briefing ang mga ahente, more or less 30 minutes bigla akong tinawag, sinabihan nga ako na may naiwang bag. Isa sa kasamahan natin. Kailangang makuha kasi may mga gamot na laman. Kailangan ng may-ari,&quot; he recounted.</p><p>Accompanied by a GSIS security guard to the second floor, the driver claims he was suddenly cornered and arrested by police officers on the GSIS side of the property, asserting he never even set foot inside the actual Senate building during the commotion.</p><p>“Papunta na kami roon sa area na kung saan ay naiwan &#x27;yung bag nung isa sa kasamahan namin. &#x27;Yung guwardya na kasama ko nagpaiwan sa loob ng canteen, at mag-isa na lang ako na pumunta sa area na ininstruction sa akin,&quot; he added.</p><p>He detailed: “Biglang may sumalubong sa akin na pulis, so sinabi nung guwardya, &#x27;Sir, taga-NBI.&#x27; Tinanong ako, anong ginagawa ko, &#x27;Sir, may hinahanap lang akong bag, naiwan.&#x27;”</p><p>The driver’s claims stand in sharp contrast to initial police findings and forensic results.</p><p> While the Southern Police District (SPD) confirmed that no firearm was recovered directly from the suspect, authorities discovered a sling bag in his possession containing ammunition, a magazine, a jacket, a T-shirt, and an NBI badge. Additionally, official police reports indicate that the driver tested positive for gunpowder nitrates.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/nbi-driver-linked-to-senate-shooting-tests-positive-for-gunpowder-nitrates-0018">NBI driver linked to Senate shooting tests positive for gunpowder nitrates</a></div><p>The driver, however, vehemently denied any ownership or knowledge of the confiscated sling bag, asserting that he never handled or even saw the bag he was initially instructed to retrieve.</p><p>He insisted that both CCTV footage from the building and viral videos circulating online would vindicate him, proving not only that he was entirely unarmed but also that he remained civil throughout the entire arrest.</p><p>“Nagtaka po ako dahil never akong humawak ng baril no&#x27;ng araw na iyon hanggang makarating ako. Never ko pa po nahawakan ‘yung bag at never ko pa po nakita ‘yung bag na pinapabalikan sa akin. Nagulat nga po ako na iniuugnay sa akin dahil never ko pong nahawakan o nalapitan ‘yung bag,&quot; he asserted.</p><div><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/pHg_yBFAh-0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><div><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/Lkj2po3Qy0w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Citing trauma experienced by the suspect and his family, his legal counsel, Atty. Paolo Nieto, disclosed that they are actively reviewing CCTV logs and witness accounts to file counter-charges against the arresting officers.</p><p>“We are also contemplating filing charges against those who are responsible for the questionable or possibly illegal arrest nung aming client. We are still collating evidence kasi ang dami nga namang ebidensya rito, maraming CCTV, maraming witnesses. We are sorting through that. We will make the move sometime soon,” the lawyer revealed.</p><p>The defense camp is looking to sue for what they describe as a highly questionable and potentially illegal arrest executed outside Senate grounds.</p><p>“There&#x27;s a video of him nung nahuli siya, and it really shows kung nasaan siya at kung paano siya umakto nung nahuli siya sa may GSIS side. Makikita naman na hindi siya nagpapaputok noon at makikita na civil ‘yung kanyang pakikipag-usap sa umaresto sa kaniya,&quot; he maintained.</p><div><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/iO8Ll6Irj-k?&amp;t=2s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><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/wq6plkjZIdM?&amp;t=79s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The 44-year-old NBI driver-volunteer arrested in connection with the May 13 Senate gunfire incident has broken his silence, maintaining he never carried or fired a weapon.</p>

The 44-year-old NBI driver-volunteer arrested in connection with the May 13 Senate gunfire incident has broken his silence, maintaining he never carried or fired a weapon.