Senate shooting: Aplasca admits firing first shot at NBI agents

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca admitted Thursday that he was the first to fire his gun during the Senate standoff Wednesday night, saying it was a warning shot directed at National Bureau of Investigation personnel near the area.

Aplasca made the admission in an interview after Palace Press Officer Claire Castro and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms was the first to discharge his firearm.

“I was the one who made the warning shot,” Aplasca said in Filipino. “I fired my gun upwards.”

Aplasca said the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms staff had prepared for possible contingencies but “did not anticipate” an exchange of gunfire with NBI personnel.

According to Aplasca, it was “unusual” for the NBI not to coordinate with the Senate when its personnel were in the vicinity, even if they were at the adjacent Government Service Insurance System building.

The Senate building and the GSIS building are located within the GSIS complex in Pasay City.

“Every time the NBI goes here, they coordinate with us. Yesterday, from morning until night, up to the exchange of gunfire and until they left the area, no one coordinated with us,” Aplasca said in Filipino.

The gunfire was reported Wednesday night, two days after Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa appeared at the Senate plenary session amid rumors that he would be arrested.

Dela Rosa is facing charges of crimes against humanity for mass murder over his role in the previous administration’s drug war.

Dela Rosa was the first Philippine National Police chief appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte and was among the implementers of Duterte’s drug war, which is the subject of a crimes against humanity case before the International Criminal Court.

His appearance Monday came as the minority moved to unseat former Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

The leadership change eventually materialized, with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano receiving 13 votes, the minimum needed to elect a new Senate leader.

WATCH: Dela Rosa attends Senate plenary for the first time since Nov. 11

Tensions rose again Wednesday amid rumors that NBI personnel were near the Senate.

An investigation into the incident is underway, but NBI Director Melvin Matibag maintained Wednesday that none of their agents were inside the Senate building. Matibag said GSIS officials requested their presence amid the tensions at the Senate.

In a press briefing Thursday, Castro said Aplasca was the first to fire a warning shot at an NBI agent on the premises of the GSIS building. Remulla, in his report read by Cayetano in a separate briefing, said the same thing.

Aplasca said the Senate is now secure.

“I can assure everyone, the public, the senators, and all employees and members of the Senate that the Senate is very much secured as of today,” he said.

READ: Palace: Senate sergeant-at-arms first to fire; meant as warning shot to NBI

Several legal luminaries and House lawmakers lamented the incident. In an interview with DZMM, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said the lack of stability and control could be attributed to a “failure of leadership” by both Malacañang and the Senate.

Drilon, a lawyer and former justice secretary, said there is no law allowing Cayetano to grant protective custody to Dela Rosa, as such privileges are extended only to legislative witnesses.

He further said the “protective custody” may have allowed Dela Rosa to evade authorities reportedly enforcing arrest orders from the ICC.

READ: House minority solons: Senate an accomplice to dela Rosa’s escape

House minority lawmakers also called out the Senate, saying the best way to end the tensions was for Dela Rosa to surrender.

After Dela Rosa was confirmed Thursday to have left the building, Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said in separate statements that the Senate could be considered an accomplice to Dela Rosa’s escape.

They said the “protective custody” provided by the Senate appeared to have been used to allow Dela Rosa to escape. /mcm/cb/dm