Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has ordered the six-month preventive suspension without pay of acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca over the gunfire incident inside the Senate complex on Wednesday night, May 13.
Remulla announced the suspension during a press briefing on Friday, saying the move was necessary while the Ombudsman conducts an investigation into the shooting incident that erupted amid tensions surrounding Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s ICC arrest warrant.
“Siya po ang unang nagpaputok. Papaputukan mo, law enforcement? We do not tolerate that,” Remulla said.
“He can appeal, pero hindi puwedeng may taong maaaring makaimpluwensiya sa mga bagay na kailangan nating mabungkal rito sa Senado,” he added.
The Ombudsman stressed that preventive suspension was needed to prevent possible undue influence on the ongoing investigation.
“That is why we need to investigate. Unforgivable, mahirap patawarin iyong ginawa nilang ’yun. Di po ito katanggap-tanggap. Ano karapatan niyang gawin ’yun? Sino siya?” Remulla said.
Aplasca earlier admitted firing the first warning shot against National Bureau of Investigation agents positioned near the GSIS side of the Senate building during the chaotic confrontation.
Remulla also disclosed that the Ombudsman investigation would include the entire Senate Sergeant-at-Arms contingent, police officers, NBI personnel, senators, and journalists who witnessed the incident.
The Ombudsman has likewise issued subpoenas requesting Senate CCTV footage tied to the shooting incident.
“Sana naman walang nawawala na footage sapagkat may allegations at may nagsasabi baka tinago niya ang CCTV footage. Sana naman walang cover-up dito,” Remulla said.
Hours after the shooting incident, Senator dela Rosa reportedly left the Senate premises despite the standing International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him over alleged crimes against humanity linked to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano later confirmed that dela Rosa left together with Senator Robin Padilla.
Remulla warned that individuals found responsible for the incident could face possible cases including obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting a fugitive, failure to maintain public order and safety, and gross neglect of duty.
Under Presidential Decree 1829, government officials found guilty of obstruction of justice may face perpetual disqualification from public office aside from other penalties.
“Obstruction of justice ang pinakamabigat diyan. Whoever is found to be in on it will face that,” Remulla said.
Meanwhile, Cayetano pushed back against the suspension order and urged the Ombudsman to also suspend NBI Director Melvin Matibag.
“Let me just appeal to the Ombudsman, suspend also the NBI director because he is more a suspect than General Mao,” Cayetano said in a separate briefing.
The Senate President insisted the Senate should not be unfairly blamed while investigations into the incident continue.
