17/05/2026
According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, Senate security personnel overreacted during the May 13 gunfire incident by acting on guesswork instead of a verified threat. Disputing Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s account, Matibag noted that the Senate team treated the situation like an impending siege without checking in with the adjacent GSIS security force.
Here are the direct links to the primary news reports covering NBI Director Melvin Matibag’s statements and the ongoing fallout from the May 13 Senate incident:
• Philstar.com: Read the main coverage detailing how Director Matibag contested the Senate President’s claims in NBI chief disputes Cayetano’s Senate ‘attack’ claim as inconsistent.
• ABS-CBN News: For details on the investigation into whether the disturbance was an orchestrated diversion tactic, see Senate chaos ‘staged’?: ‘That’s the sentiment of our NBI agents,’ Matibag says.
• Inquirer.net: Review the initial briefings out of Malacañang regarding the joint PNP-NBI forensic probe in NBI: Authorities probing if Senate shooting was staged.
• The Guardian: For international context regarding the broader standoff involving Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s protective custody and the ICC arrest warrant, check out Gunshots fired in Philippines senate in standoff with senator wanted by ICC.