MANILA, Philippines — Security has been tightened at the Senate following the recovery of a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) outside its premises, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian condemning what he described as an apparent attempt to sow fear on the day President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Gatchalian said no act of intimidation would deter the Senate from carrying out its constitutional mandate.
"No such act of intimidation will distract the Senate from its work for the Filipino people," he said in a statement issued Monday.
The Senate President also directed the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) to fully coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, which immediately responded to the area after the suspected explosive device was discovered.
"I thank them for their swift action, and I am relieved that no one was hurt," Gatchalian said.
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfred Corpus said the Senate had been on heightened alert because of the opening of the second regular session of the 20th Congress and the SONA, but security measures would be further intensified following the incident.
Under Gatchalian's directive, additional security personnel will be deployed throughout the Senate grounds, while inspections of individuals entering the premises will be tightened.
The Senate will also continue to closely coordinate with the PNP to enhance surveillance and security operations outside the Senate complex.
Corpus said the heightened security posture would remain in effect until authorities determined the circumstances surrounding the incident. He noted that the OSAA had not received any prior intelligence report indicating a potential security threat before the suspected IED was found.
Gatchalian called on the PNP and other concerned agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation to determine who was responsible for the incident.
"The perpetrators must be identified and held accountable under the law," he said.
