THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said concerns over reported Senate security threats were based on an intelligence-led assessment drawn from multiple sources.
In a media briefing, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the security assessment was not anchored on a single trigger such as text messages or cyber activity, but on consolidated intelligence inputs, including online activity, protest movements and prior incidents.
He said the assessment was based on what he described as “intelligence warrants,” which combined different streams of information pointing to possible large-scale disruption.
Matibag stressed that the matter should not be treated as a stand-alone bomb threat but as a broader security concern involving potential destabilization activities.
He added that the NBI continued to closely monitor the situation in the Senate, noting that while the threat level had “subsided,” it remained under observation due to indications of continued organization among identified groups.
Authorities, however, declined to disclose operational details to protect intelligence sources and ongoing law enforcement work.
Matibag also linked parts of the assessment to developments surrounding the May 13 Senate incident and a related shooting, saying investigators were still exploring possible connections and individuals tagged in the probe.
He said some senators were among those being looked into but stressed that no conclusions had been reached.
Investigators, he added, were also assessing possible motives behind the reported threats, which he said could be tied to efforts to create instability and exert political pressure, though these remained subject to validation.
Cyberattack probe
Separately, the NBI confirmed it has identified individuals responsible for the recent defacement of government websites, including those of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Matibag said the suspects had been pinpointed and legal action was being prepared, noting that they belonged to a single group but were composed of different individuals.
“We have identified all of them already. We have to make them answer,” he said, adding that authorities were verifying the extent of their involvement.
The websites of both chambers were defaced on three separate occasions over the weekend, prompting investigations by cybersecurity and law enforcement agencies.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said no sensitive data or confidential information had been compromised during the attacks.
CICC Executive Director Aboy Paraiso said the suspects could face charges for computer-related offenses under existing cybercrime laws, including computer manipulation and malicious mischief.
Authorities said monitoring of government systems would continue to prevent similar incidents and strengthen cybersecurity defenses.
