MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.said there was no instruction from the government to arrest Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant of arrest linked to killings under the previous administration’s war on drugs.

In a report, it said that in a video message, Marcos also urged calm following reports of gunfire during a lockdown at the Senate premises, stressing that state forces were not involved in the incident.

“Wala pong instruction kahit kanino na hulihin si Senator Bato. Ang NBI, sinabihan ko, noong lumabas ‘yung resolution ng Supreme Court, ay sinabi ko na umalis na kayo diyan at sumunod naman sila,” Marcos said.

The President also clarified that government personnel had no role in the reported shooting inside the Senate.

“Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Wala pong pumasok na tagalabas na sundalo o militar o NBI sa Senado. Hindi po natin alam kung sino ’yong sumubok na pumasok at dahil doon nagkaputukan,” he said.

Marcos said an investigation will be conducted by both the Philippine National Police and the Senate to determine whether the incident was an encounter or part of a destabilization effort.

He added that uniformed personnel present in the Senate were police officers and Marines assigned for security and crowd control, along with personnel from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

“Taga-run sila,” he said.

Marcos said he had spoken with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano and agreed that authorities should first establish what really happened.

“Maging kalma lang tayo. Nakausap ko na si Senate President Alan at we agree that the thing to do now is to tell all to calm down at alamin natin kung sino ang gumawa nitong gulo na ito. Ito ba ay nagka-engkuwentro lang or kasama sa destabilization or nagsisimula ng gulo?” he said.

He assured the public that the government was not responsible for the incident and that a thorough investigation is underway.

“Kailangan nating malaman ’yan, kaya sabay na mag-iimbestiga ang PNP at ang Senado. Masasabi ko lang na hindi po mag-alala ang ating taumbayan. Hindi po ang gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Wala pong pumasok na tagalabas na sundalo o militar o NBI sa Senado,” he added.