Ombudsman suspends Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca over May 13 shooting incident
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Friday he has placed Mao Aplasca, acting Senate sergeant-at-arms, under a six-month unpaid preventive suspension effective immediately.
In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman wrote it had "determined that Aplasca’s continued stay in office poses a risk to the integrity of the ongoing investigation into the events that occurred at the Senate building on May 13, 2026."
Remulla's office wants to keep intact any documents and evidence that are currently in Aplasca's custody.
According to the Ombudsman, the suspension is also "to prevent any potential prejudice to the adjudication of the case."
He added that the suspension is "meant to make things easier for us to get to the bottom of things," referring to the shooting incident.
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.
On Monday, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrived at the Senate apparently to serve the warrant. Senate president Alan Peter Cayetano then placed Dela Rosa under Senate protective custody, which lawyers say is not a real concept.
Two days later, at least 30 gunshots were heard within the Senate premises. Aplasca has admitted it was the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms that fired first; a total of 27 "warning shots."
"Totoo po," Aplasca told Mel Tiangco of GMA's 24 Oras when asked to confirm if the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms made the first shots. "Ito po ay kasama sa aming standard operation."
Just a few hours after his admission, Remulla made the urgent move to suspend Aplasca.
"Ang usapang ito ay napakaseryosong usapan. Sa isang opisina na itinatag ng ating Saligang Batas, ang mga pangyayaring ito'y hindi katanggap-tanggap; lalung-lalo na na siya ay gumaganap bilang sergeant-at-arms, at siya pa ang nagpaputok una ng baril," said Remulla.
"We cannot ignore something of this magnitude," he added.
At the time of the press conference, Remulla hadn't spoken to Aplasca yet but said his office had already transmitted the order of suspension to the Senate.
