Abbey M.

At least 10 gunshots rang out inside the Senate of the Philippines on Wednesday night, May 13, as the upper chamber was placed under a total lockdown and personnel from the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) ordered reporters and Senate staff to clear the second floor of the building.

Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca told reporters that an arrest was about to be carried out inside the Senate premises but did not name the senator involved. "They are going to arrest," Aplasca said.

“No arrest can happen inside the [premises]. If there will be arrest, it will be by virtue or order of a local court,” Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca also told reporters.

Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police and the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant in connection with the Duterte administration's war on drugs, has remained inside the Senate complex since Monday under the Senate’s protective custody. His whereabouts following the shooting were not immediately known.

Earlier in the day, during his Facebook livestream, Dela Rosa called on members of the Armed Forces to push back against any move to surrender him to foreign authorities, urging former colleagues in uniform to make their position known.

SP Alan Peter Cayetano confirms gunshots

In a Facebook Live broadcast aired from inside the Senate, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed the gunshots and said senators in the building were "allegedly under attack."

Cayetano said Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, were able to reach National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag by phone during the lockdown. According to the Senate President, Matibag told the two senators that no NBI agents were inside the Senate and that the bureau had been instructed to stay away from the premises.

The Senate President added that four senators received tips while in a meeting that they should leave the area because "something was going to happen."

"The emotions are high here dahil bakit kami paalisin eh we're waiting for the Articles of Impeachment and we're having a meeting," Cayetano said. "Kung sino ang nakikinig from the government, this is the Senate of the Philippines, we are allegedly under attack."

Sen. Robin Padilla was also seen telling reporters to evacuate the Senate premises but declined to provide further details.

Armed members of the Philippine Marines were earlier observed entering the Senate building shortly after the lockdown took effect.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said it was monitoring the situation, confirming that reporters had been ordered to exit the Senate but that several media workers remained stranded inside the building. The group's Media Safety Office advised newsrooms to prioritize the safety of journalists on the ground, urging them to drop to the floor during gunfire and move to a safe area before filing reports.

Remulla arrives to 'secure,' not arrest

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor "Jonvic" Remulla arrived at the Senate. The DILG chief told reporters that his top priority was the safety of the senators inside the building.

Based on an initial report he received, Remulla said no one had been hurt in the incident. The identity of those responsible for the gunfire, however, had yet to be established.

Articles of impeachment arrive mid-lockdown

In the middle of the lockdown, the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were formally transmitted to the Senate. House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil handed over the documents to Senate Secretary Mark Leandro "Dong" Mendoza at exactly 7:22 PM, just minutes after the lockdown was imposed.

"The transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment marks the beginning of the next constitutional phase of the process, and the House Secretariat made sure that all records were complete and in proper order prior to submission," Garafil said in a statement.

The Vice President was impeached for the second time by the House of Representatives on Monday, May 11, on a 257-25-9 vote, making her the first official in Philippine history to face impeachment twice.

This is a developing story.

The Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) has clarified that it is not opposed to the use of solar equipment.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), for its part, said it does not prohibit the use of solar panels that are directly connected to appliances.

Meralco responded to the alleged opposition it has expressed against consumers' use of solar panels. This came after netizens criticized the distribution utility's call for stricter regulation on the installation of rooftop solar panels.

According to Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga, the company recognizes the growing interest in renewable energy and solar installations. They also understand why many customers see this as an alternative for lower electricity costs.

Zaldarriaga clarified that Meralco is not against the adoption of renewable energy or the use of solar equipment. According to the company, it has never been Meralco's intention to prevent any innovation or limit personal energy choices.

Instead, the company wants to emphasize the importance of safety and proper installation. Meralco also said it has no authority to regulate solar installations; rather, it considers education and cooperation as part of its responsibility.

The primary regulator for the installation and use of solar panels is the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). 

However, according to Atty. Maria Corazon Gines, ERC Legal Service Director, this does not cover solar panels that are directly connected to appliances.

"Hindi naman talaga namin ipinagbabawal yung mga pag-i-install na yung mga yan, nakakabit sa, kung hindi naman nakakabit doon sa distribution system, risk na consumers yun. Kung mag-ano sila, kung magdedirekta, kasi meron yung mga solar panels kasi na pwedeng direkta doon sa mga appliances. Kusto kami, hindi na namin masyadong pinakikialaman yun. Kasi direkta naman yun, risk na rin naman nila," Atty. Gines said.

(We don't really prohibit those installations. If they are not connected to the distribution system, that is already a risk on the consumers. Because there are solar panels that can be connected directly to appliances. With those, we don't really interfere much. Because that's direct, it's also at their own risk.)

Despite this, the ERC stated that there is regulation for solar panels that are connected to the distribution system.

"Kung kakabit din nila doon sa metro o kaya doon sa distribution system, yun yung kailangan talaga nilang i-apply sa amin yun. Kasi baka may impact yun doon sa distribution system. Pwede mag-overload yung transformer," she explained.

(If they connect it to the meter or to the distribution system, that's what they really need to apply for with us. Because that may have an impact on the distribution system. The transformer could overload.)

Atty. Gines added that consumers should consider the safety implications of using solar panels.

"Hindi namin in-expect yung mga consumers na alam nila yung mga patakaran na yun. Pero yung mga installers, alam nila yan, matagal na siguro sila sa industriya. Kaya alam nila kung ano yung mga kailangan nilang kunin ng mga permits doon sa mga regulations for safety din. Safety purposes," she said.

(We don't expect consumers to know those rules. But the installers know them, as they have probably been in the industry for a long time. So they know what permits they need to obtain in line with the regulations, also for safety. Safety purposes.)

Twenty-four of the 38 Filipino crew members of the MV Hondius will be brought to the Netherlands to undergo quarantine.

According to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), they will be flown by plane to the said country.

The remaining 14 Filipino crew members will follow aboard the ship.

Once the quarantine period is completed, they will then be repatriated back to the Philippines.

The DMW also said that the crew members will continue to receive their salaries based on what is stipulated in their contracts.

The Department of Health earlier said that the Filipino seamen tested negative for hantavirus.

Personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have served a subpoena against Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa at his residence in Davao.

The move by the Philippine National Police (PNP) followed the order issued yesterday by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla to reopen the investigation into the extrajudicial killings that took place in Davao.

CIDG personnel were unable to locate Sen. Dela Rosa when they served the subpoena at his Davao home, as well as at his office at the Senate in Pasay City.

According to PNP Public Information Office Chief PBGen. Randulf Tuaño, only the caretaker of Bato's residence received the subpoena.

The subpoena, signed by CIDG Director PMGen. Robert Morico II, orders Sen. Dela Rosa to appear before the Major Crimes Investigation Unit (MCIU) of the CIDG at Camp Crame on Thursday, May 14, at 10 AM.

He is being required to submit a sworn affidavit and supporting documents, and to provide information related to the alleged extrajudicial killings that occurred while he was serving as City Director and Regional Director in Davao.

Should he fail to comply, Dela Rosa may face indirect contempt.

In May 10, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla directed the PNP to reopen the investigation into the war on drugs. He said around 100 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded during Sen. Bato's assignment in the Davao Region.

The Secretary also clarified that the document be served is not an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and that there are no plans to arrest Dela Rosa.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios are set to hold a meeting today, May 11, at Malacañang, with the goal of further strengthening relations between the Philippines and Paraguay at the center of the talks.

Particular focus will be given to cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Earlier, the Paraguayan President was given arrival honors at the Palace grounds. President Marcos personally welcomed President Palacios at Malacañang.

After the signing of the guest book, the two leaders immediately held a bilateral meeting.

Joining the meeting were Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, and Philippine Ambassador to Buenos Aires Grace Cruz-Fabella. Also present were their counterparts from Paraguay.

The public will have to wait for the results of the meeting later.

President Palacios is the first Paraguayan Chief Executive to visit the Philippines since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on December 12, 1962.