President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. said on Wednesday night denied giving instruction to arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in the Senate protective custody following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court  (ICC) in connection Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

In a video message, Marcos also called for calm after shots were heard during a lockdown of the Senate premises earlier, saying government forces had no role in the shooting.

“Wala pong instruction kahit kanino na hulihin si Senator Bato. Ang NBI, sinabihan ko, noong lumabas ‘yung resolution ng Supreme Court, ay sinabi ko na umalis na kayo diyan at sumunod naman sila,” Marcos said.

Regarding the shooting incident, Marcos said, “Hindi po gobyerno ang gumawa nito. Wala pong pumasok na tagalabas na sundalo o militar o NBI sa Senado. Hindi po natin alam kung sino ’yong sumubok na pumasok at dahil doon nagkaputukan.”

“Aalamin po natin at kinukuha po natin ang lahat ng ebidensya. maraming salamat po, kalma lang po. Asahan po ninyo, ang gobyerno ninyo hindi gagawa niyan,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the uniformed personnel at the Senate building were police officers and Marines assigned to secure the institution and ensure crowd control. He also mentioned the armed personnel of the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.

“Taga-run sila,” Marcos said.

(They are deployed there.)