Senate threat may be tied to bagmen

SENATE President Pro Tempore Sherwin T. Gatchalian on Wednesday said that the Senate security threat could be connected with the 18 bagmen, citing information from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

In a Zoom press briefing, Mr. Gatchalian told reporters that they are still coordinating with various intelligence agencies to validate the information, noting that an armed group may be behind the threat.

“I cannot say in detail but what he [NBI Director Melvin A. Matibag] said is there’s a possibility of an armed group destabilizing the Senate,” he said in mixed Filipino and English. “According to the NBI, it might be connected to them [18 bodyguards].”

The Senate has been put under heightened security measures due to the threats and is now on a no-visitor policy, with more Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms personnel deployed within the compound, said Mr. Gatchalian.

His office on Tuesday issued a memorandum instructing the Senate Secretariat and Senate Proper employees to work from home.

Mr. Gatchalian said he first received the information on June 8 after Mr. Matibag informed Blue Ribbon Committee Chairperson Erwin T. Tulfo of the threats, which he later addressed with the NBI.

“We informed everyone through the memo. And (Tuesday) morning, we were also validating, getting more information,” he said, responding to a question on whether the minority bloc had been informed of the security threats. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel