Metro Manila, Philippines – Former acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca has been dismissed from government service, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Saturday.
Speaking on his radio program, Remulla said he signed Aplasca’s dismissal order on Monday, June 30, and that the decision would be released publicly in the coming days. He did not disclose the reason for the dismissal.
“Noong Monday, pinirmahan ko na yung dismissal order ni Aplasca from the service,” said Remulla.
[Translation: Last Monday, I signed Aplasca’s dismissal order from the service.]
“Ilalabas namin ang desisyon para makita ng tao dahil mahirap na magpaliwanag,” he added.
[Translation: We will make the decision public so people can see it, because it would be difficult to keep explaining it.]
On May 18, the Office of the Ombudsman placed Aplasca under a six-month preventive suspension as it investigated the standoff at the Senate between in-house security and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Hours after that, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa left the Senate premises where he was given protective custody in light of the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court over his alleged involvement in the crimes against humanity case in relation to the Duterte administration’s drug war. Dela Rosa was the Philippine National Police chief and main implementer of the drug war at the time.
