An image of a window filled with bullet holes in the aftermath of the Senate shooting drew attention online, with many Filipinos raising doubts about the incident.
A Reddit user on Wednesday, May 13, posted a screenshot taken from one of the videos uploaded by lawyer Israelito Torreon, counsel Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who said the gunshots were fired on the building’s second floor.
Reports said the gunshots were heard around 7:46 p.m. in the second-floor corridor. This was followed by multiple bursts of gunfire, reportedly resembling shots from automatic weapons.
Armed members of the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSAA), several of whom were wearing bulletproof vests, along with police officers and Marines in full combat gear, were deployed to the scene.
The lights were later turned off and the journalists were told to leave the premises.
Reports said the gunfire lasted for less than three minutes.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that no government force was involved in the attack.
READ: Marcos says government not involved in Senate gunfire incident | Gunshots fired in standoff at Philippine Senate over ICC suspect
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which had previously attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Dela Rosa issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), also denied involvement and said it had no agents on the premises.
Meanwhile, one of the videos uploaded by Torreon caught attention, with an online user posting a screenshot from t on a Reddit community.
“It’s profoundly sad to announce that we have multiple glass casualties from the Senate standoff last night, our deepest condolences, tempered glass family,” a Reddit user quipped in the “r/Philippines” community.
it’s profoundly sad to announce that we have multiple glass casualties from the senate standoff last night, our deepest condolences tempered glass family. 💔
by
u/the_Mbass in
Philippines
The post, which carried the “MemePH” flair, garnered 3,100 upvotes, two awards and 301 comments, with several Reddit users questioning the angle of the bullet holes.
“The gunshots don’t make sense to me. Sino ba target ng namaril, ba’t ang taas ng mga butas sa bintana? hahaha,” a Redditor commented.
“Ang taas niyan, ah? Ano binabaril, ilaw?” another asked.
“If they are selling this as a shootout, bakit parang [diyan] lang ‘yung tama? And if they are selling it na warning shots lang, why this many?” one Reddi user also asked.
“Ang tataas ng tama. [Six] footer ata kalaban. Wahahhaa, halatang walang tinamaan sa naganap na barilan. Dami CCTV nung lugar na ‘yan ah, may makulong kaya?” another wrote.
“Ang taas ah. Lalo lang nilang pinapakitang scripted ‘yan. Hahahaha,” a different Pinoy commented.
Others also raised the possibility of the shooting was “staged,” pointing to circumstances such as some senators having a meal after the incident.
Some said taxpayers would shoulder the damage from the shooting incident.
“Wasted another bunch of taxpayer’s money just to protect a killer. this country is hopeless…” an X user wrote.
ALSO READ: ‘Staged to manufacture chaos?’: Probe into motive sought over Senate shooting
There were no reported casualties or injuries in the shooting.
Dela Rosa had also fled the building following the incident, according to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
READ: Dela Rosa wanted by ICC no longer at Senate, Cayetano says | No casualties reported after gunfire in Senate, official says
Authorities arrested Mel Oragon, in connection with the shooting incident. NBI director Melvin Matibag said Oragon was not an “official NBI employee” but a “volunteer” working as a driver for NBI agents.
The Philippine National Police said it would conduct a “thorough investigation” into the shooting.
“We assure all our kababayan of a thorough, objective, and exhaustive investigation of this incident. Our goal is clear: Follow the evidence wherever it leads,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said in a statement.
He added that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) would work closely with the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and Senate leadership “to ensure that no stone is left unturned.”
“This is a matter of national security and public trust,” Nartatez said.
