Metro Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Boying Remulla has preventively suspended the Senate sergeant-at-arms, a retired police officer, over his actions on the volley of gunfire at the chamber, and sought a copy of the security camera footage.
In a press briefing, Remulla announced that PMGen Mao Aplasca (ret.) was placed under a six-month preventive suspension without pay.
The ombudsman expressed dismay over Aplasca’s actions, in particular at firing the first shot during a standoff with agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the Senate on Wednesday evening, May 13.
The gunshots happened as tensions ran high amid reports of an impending arrest of Sen. Bato dela Rosa, who is facing a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over cases related to the Duterte drug war.
“It’s worrisome if we allow this to go unpunished and just ignore it. We cannot ignore something of this magnitude,” Remulla said.
“Mahirap patawarin ang ginawa nilang iyon. Nagpaputok ng baril sa loob ng premises ng enclosed building. It could have hit somebody,” he added.
[Translation: What they did was difficult to forgive – firing shots inside the premises of an enclosed building. It could have hit somebody.]
Investigations showed the Senate security fired 27 shots, and the NBI five.
Aplasca admitted firing the warning shot to NBI agents.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, on the other hand, asked Remulla to suspend NBI Director Melvin Matibag as well.
“Suspend also the NBI director because he is more a suspect than General Mao dito [here]. We do not want to set a bad example in the independent investigation and we do not want to put the Senate in harm’s way,” he said.
Remulla shared that his office is forming a special panel to probe the incident, vowing that the NBI personnel involved will also be investigated.
He added that his agency will also talk to senators who were in the building while the gunfire scare happened.
Police personnel and representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government will be invited as well in the investigation.
Remulla said there are a number of possible violations in the scene, including obstruction of justice, abetting a criminal or fugitive from justice, and gross neglect of duty.
Footage
The ombudsman also issued a subpoena for the security camera footage at the Senate second floor – where the gunshots were heard – and the basement parking on May 13 to 14.
“The CCTV would naturally fall under the OSAA of the Senate. The office is one with the Filipino people in wanting to get to the bottom of the incident. This is where we start, at the place where it occurred,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a separate statement.
Remulla said the probe will also clarify a remark by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in a Facebook video to “hide” (itago) the security camera footage.
“Kung ano ang tono noon malalaman natin. Kapag may nawala dyan baka naman siya ang mapaghinalaan,” he said.
[Translation: We’ll know what the tone was back then. If something goes missing there, they might end up suspecting him.]
Estrada explained his statement was meant to secure and preserve the footage.
Remulla said the agency will also investigate reports that Dela Rosa was with Sen. Robin Padilla when he fled the Senate premises past 2 a.m. on May 14.
‘Flight is an indication of guilt’
Meanwhile, Remulla challenged Dela Rosa to face the warrant and stop causing disruptions.
“Ganyan ba dapat maging senador natin? Tumatakbo sa batas? Is that the hero we want to portray?… Flight is an indication of guilt,”
[Translation: Should a senator be like that? Running away from the law? Is that the hero we want to portray…Flight is an indication of guilt.]
Dela Rosa suddenly appeared at the Senate session on May 11 after months of absence amid reports of an ICC warrant against him. His abrupt presence solidified the vote to oust Sen. Tito Sotto installed Cayetano as Senate president – on the same day the House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.
