• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday, May 14 called for an impartial and comprehensive investigation into the chaos and reported gunfire inside the Senate, warning that any attempt to undermine legal and democratic processes could erode public trust in government institutions.
Speaking during a press briefing at L’ Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, Hontiveros described the incident as a “historic low” for the country and pressed for the creation of an inter-agency body to conduct a full inquiry.
“We need to get to the bottom of this. The Filipino people deserve a full, independent, and unobstructed accounting. Walang takipan,” she said.
The senator said proposals are now being prepared regarding the composition of the investigating body and the mechanisms needed to ensure impartiality in the probe.
Among the issues that investigators must address are the identities of the armed and uniformed men seen during the disturbance, who were responsible for escalating the situation, and who allegedly initiated the gunfire and commotion inside the Senate premises.
“This has never happened before — and it should never happen again,” Hontiveros stressed.
She also criticized the reported actions of individuals who allegedly barricaded themselves inside the Senate during the incident.
“No one gets to act like they own the place, much less barricade themselves inside it,” she said.
The controversy stemmed from reports that Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa left the Senate amid tensions surrounding the calls for him to face legal proceedings linked to alleged crimes against humanity connected to the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Hontiveros said senators who may have placed De la Rosa under “protective custody” should be held accountable if it is proven that he indeed left the Senate premises to evade legal processes.
“Our people are saying that everything that happened last night was simply to allow one of us to evade and avoid facing the legal process. That is a disgrace to the Senate and should never be allowed to continue,” she said.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano later confirmed De la Rosa’s departure, saying the senator was “free to go” because there was no pending local arrest warrant against him.
However, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant against De la Rosa in connection with alleged crimes against humanity tied to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Hontiveros warned that if De la Rosa’s departure is confirmed, it could further damage the Senate’s credibility as a democratic institution.
“If true, this would be another serious blow to the Senate’s integrity and to the people who continue to trust us,” she said.
While acknowledging that the Senate as an institution had been placed “on the spot” by the incident, Hontiveros said accountability should primarily rest with the chamber’s leadership.
“The Senate as an institution was unfortunately placed in a difficult position, but I would lay the task of accountability for this incident at the door of the Senate leadership,” she added. | GB
