Aplasca asks NBI to delay appearance over Senate shooting probe
MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to defer his appearance before the bureau amid its investigation in the May 13 Senate shootout incident, hours before Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa escaped the building.
Aplasca was scheduled to appear before the NBI at 10 a.m. Thursday in compliance with the subpoena issued to him.
READ: NBI subpoenas Aplasca, Padilla’s aid, uncle over dela Rosa escape
“We requested NBI for deferment in view of the impending Senate inquiry on the May 11 to 14 incidents,” Aplasca said in a Viber message to the INQUIRER.
“The same request for deferment was also sent to CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] last week,” he added.
Aplasca also shared a screenshot of his counsel’s email to the NBI’s Cybercrime Division, attaching the request letter dated June 9, 2026.
Meanwhile, the NBI Cybercrime Division said they are still checking on the letter supposedly sent by Aplasca.
Aplasca recently admitted to being the first to discharge his firearm during the Senate shootout incident with the NBI agents, explaining it was a warning shot.
READ: Mike Defensor ‘no-show’ at NBI, calls subpoena ‘harassment’
Last week, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said that aside from Aplasca, the bureau also subpoenaed Pasay City police chief Col. Joselito de Sesto, Sen. Robin Padilla’s deputy chief of staff Jean Robles, and the senator’s uncle Virgilio Cariño to shed light on dela Rosa’s escape at the Senate building.
The bureau’s Cybercrime Division said the schedule for the other three individuals will be on “a later date.”
De Sesto told the INQUIRER in a phone interview that his scheduled appearance at the NBI will be next week, adding that he will comply with the subpoena issued to him.
The NBI is currently conducting a manhunt operation for dela Rosa to serve the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court in connection to his supposed involvement in the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs. /dp /das
