By Cip Cabrera
ERMITA, Manila — Questions are mounting over how arrested volunteer driver Mel Oragon came to possess a firearm during an NBI operation inside the Senate premises, where agents were reportedly serving an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Oragon was later detained by Senate Security Detachment personnel following a shooting incident inside the Senate complex, which reports say was allegedly initiated by him.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag clarified that Oragon is not an official NBI employee but had only been volunteering as a driver attached to the team deployed in the Senate.
“Sa ngayon po, binalideyt namin ang records ng aming mga ahente at employees, at siya po ay hindi opisyal na empleyado ng NBI. Pero base sa aking imbestigasyon, lumalabas na siya ay isang volunteer na kasama ng aming mga ahente,” Matibag said.
However, the incident has raised further concerns among observers, who question why a mere volunteer driver was allowed to accompany operatives inside the Senate and how he allegedly gained access to a firearm.
A lawyer who requested anonymity argued that Oragon, being only a volunteer, should not have been part of the operational entry team.
“Volunteer lang siya. Wala siyang dapat na kinalaman sa operasyon ng NBI. Dapat malinaw sa kanya ang kanyang tungkulin bilang driver lang,” the lawyer said.
He further raised concern over Matibag’s statement that the firearm may have been “handed over” during the operation.
“Kung pinahawak lang sa kanya ang baril, sino sa mga ahente ang gagawa noon na alam nilang malaking pagkakamali?” the lawyer added.
ia/xf
