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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas to interview members of the media amid its investigation into the shooting incident at the Senate on May 13, an official of the department said Friday.
This includes GMA News Online and Senate beat reporter Sundy Locus, who appeared before the DOJ this Friday morning to comply with the summons.
“Members of the media who were present at the Senate during the relevant period were interviewed solely to determine whether their accounts could assist the fact-finding panel in its investigation,” Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said.
To recall, the shooting incident occurred on the evening of May 13 amid heightened tensions at the Senate, where Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had sought protective custody following reports of a possible arrest linked to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca previously admitted that he fired the first warning shot against National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents who were at the GSIS building. He has been placed under preventive suspension.
For its part, the CIDG said the use of warning shots by OSAA personnel was not allowed under existing rules governing private security services and even under police operational procedures. It also said that the NBI only fired back after the OSAA personnel allegedly fired continuously.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has tasked the NBI and the Philippine National Police to arrest Dela Rosa, saying he is a fugitive from justice. — RSJ, GMA News
