MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said Saturday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may have received inaccurate information about the May 13 shooting incident linked to events at the Senate, and called for an independent investigation into the matter.
Speaking during a Facebook livestream, Cayetano said he had been advocating for an independent probe for several weeks because he believed the President was not receiving complete information about the incident.
Cayetano made the remarks a day after Marcos, speaking in Tokyo, described the shooting incident as “fake” and expressed concern over recent developments in the Senate.
The Senate president said evidence surrounding the incident warranted further examination.
He said the Senate Committee on Public Order would investigate the matter and invite officials from the National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, Philippine National Police and Department of the Interior and Local Government to participate in the inquiry.
Cayetano said the investigation would seek to determine the facts surrounding the incident.
He did not identify who he believed may have provided inaccurate information to the President during Saturday’s livestream. However, he previously alleged that NBI Director Melvin Matibag had given incorrect information regarding the matter.
The May 13 incident occurred during efforts by the National Bureau of Investigation to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.
Cayetano’s comments came amid ongoing disputes in the Senate involving leadership issues, proposed procedural changes and investigations involving members of both the majority and minority blocs.