Manila: Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday said authorities are now reviewing video materials obtained from members of the press as part of the investigation into Wednesday's shooting incident inside the Senate premises. Remulla said investigators are working on recovering and consolidating available recordings, including those captured by media personnel on the ground.
According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla noted that "we have footage from the press that we are studying," adding that these materials are being analyzed alongside other evidence. Remulla made the statement after Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca revealed the absence of CCTV recordings showing the movements of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and Marine personnel during the incident.
Remulla mentioned they are "in the process of recovering" CCTV and other video recordings and stated, "we will have the final report ready by Wednesday," referring to the ongoing investigation.
In a press briefing, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tua±o confirmed that available CCTV footage from inside and outside the Senate has already been handed over to the Anti-Cybercrime Group for preservation and analysis. He added that media-recorded videos and other personal footage are also being requested by investigators, including the Pasay City Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), for use as potential evidence.
Tua±o elaborated that "all pieces of evidence, including the personal footage of our media colleagues and individual personnel, are included in the request... to be provided to our investigators for use as evidence." He also mentioned that PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. is reviewing a 3D reconstruction of the scene prepared by the PNP Forensic Group, incorporating bullet trajectories, shell casing locations, and other forensic findings, which are still pending final clearance before public release.
The incident occurred amid the protective custody granted by the chamber to Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for its investigation into human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, in the Philippines. Tua±o declined to comment on reports that dela Rosa sought permission to stay at Camp Crame following the incident.
The ICC has confirmed an arrest warrant against dela Rosa, who served as PNP chief during the previous administration. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed on Thursday that dela Rosa is no longer in the Senate.
