DILG beefs up security for Senate as Gatchalian cites ‘threats’

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which supervises the Philippine National Police (PNP), will beef up security for the Senate area as its president pro tempore, Sherwin Gatchalian, alleged threats to the chamber, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday.

“There’s always a threat,” Remulla told the Inquirer in a text message when asked about the Senate president pro tempore’s statement.

Nonetheless, pressed on what actions the DILG would take in response to Gatchalian’s claim, the secretary said, “We are beefing up the security of the area. June 12 is a critical date.”

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READ: Intel reports cite threats to Senate, says Gatchalian

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In an interview on DZRH earlier on Tuesday, Gatchalian claimed the Senate received information, including from the National Bureau of Investigation, about threats that “could happen” in the Senate amid recent political tensions.

Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore on June 3 after a two-day impasse, when then-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc refused to attend the plenary session to protest the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on plunder charges in the flood control scandal.

Last week, the PNP confirmed that Remulla had met with some of the agency’s leaders.

Despite reports alleging groups aligned with the Duterte family would storm Malacañang on this year’s celebration of Independence Day, the PNP said it has yet to have “verified intelligence” as to the purported threats on June 12.

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“It’s all raw intelligence. We are watching all destabilizing groups,” Remulla clarified.

Earlier, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) told the Inquirer it was deferring to the Senate security and higher offices regarding Gatchalian’s allegations of a threat to the Senate.

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Nonetheless, the NCRPO said it was on “heightened awareness.” /das /atm

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