Manila: The Philippine National Police (PNP) has staunchly defended its investigation into the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate, dismissing allegations that the CCTV footage shared with the public had been tampered with.

According to Philippines News Agency, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. affirmed the authenticity of the footage, stating that it is genuine, time-stamped, and sourced directly, thereby nullifying any claims of manipulation. This statement was made in response to accusations by suspended Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) chief Mao Aplasca, who alleged that the footage shown during a recent Malaca±ang press conference had been "spliced" to change the narrative of the confrontation.

Gen. Nartatez expressed the PNP's openness to additional technical reviews if required to maintain public confidence in the investigation. "We remain fully transparent and welcome any objective, expert validation of these files, as our only objective is to present the unvarnished truth of the events that transpired at the Senate," he stated. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has indicated plans to recommend charges against Aplasca and two other OSAA personnel related to the incident.

In a related development, Nartatez revealed that personnel from the Maritime Group and the Aviation Security Group have been placed on high alert regarding any attempts by Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa to exit the country. Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), left Senate custody on May 14, shortly after the incident, leading to speculation that the shooting might have been a diversion.

Nartatez noted that coordination with the Bureau of Immigration has shown no records of Dela Rosa leaving the country. However, police forces have been instructed to maintain vigilance and enhance intelligence monitoring at all exit points, including the southern backdoor routes of the country. The Supreme Court has denied Dela Rosa's request for a temporary restraining order against the ICC arrest warrant, and Nartatez stated that the PNP would await further instructions from the Department of Justice.