Photo courtesy of Senator Win Gatchalian/Facebook.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday the Senate would no longer conduct its own investigation into the May 13 gunfire incident inside the chamber’s premises.
Gatchalian said the inquiry should instead be handled by the Department of Justice and other proper authorities.
He said the Senate should not investigate itself, especially since the incident involved Senate security personnel.
The gunfire happened on May 13 after National Bureau of Investigation agents were assigned to secure entrances and exits of the Senate building connected to the Government Service Insurance System compound.
Initial reports showed that warning shots were fired by members of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
Among those identified in the incident was former Senate security chief Mao Aplasca.
An internal Senate inquiry had been pushed during the brief Senate presidency of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida earlier said the DOJ’s preliminary findings showed that the actions of Senate security personnel were not justified. He also said many of those involved were public officials, but no names were disclosed.
