MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Thursday that military personnel assigned to secure the Senate compound were not involved in the gunfire incident inside the Senate complex the previous night.
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Marines deployed at the Senate were part of the military’s regular security detail and did not discharge firearms during the incident. He said the shots came from personnel of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).
“The soldiers were definitely not involved, they were not among those who fired last night,” Brawner told reporters in a phone interview.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots inside the Senate complex late Wednesday amid tensions surrounding Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has stayed inside the Senate building following reports of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him.
Videos circulating online showed uniformed Marines inside the Senate building before the shooting, raising questions about the military’s presence at the complex.
Brawner said the Marines belonged to the Marine Security and Escort Group, which provides security for key government facilities, including the Senate, Congress, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“It’s their job to secure the facility,” Brawner said. “They are facility security, not security for an individual senator.”
Officials later denied reports that authorities attempted to arrest dela Rosa at the Senate on Wednesday night.
Brawner also said the military had not raised its alert status following the incident and instructed soldiers nationwide to remain calm, disciplined, and focused on their duties.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said authorities were investigating whether the shooting was an isolated incident or part of a broader destabilization attempt.
The AFP said defense officials and military leaders coordinated Wednesday night as authorities worked to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
