Suspended Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca insisted on Wednesday that the Senate came under attack during a May 13 shooting incident, directly contradicting denials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Aplasca claimed that circulating videos of the incident were edited to falsely suggest the Senate was never under threat, though he declined to name who was behind the alleged manipulation.
While Aplasca has surrendered his weapon for ballistic examination at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory, he has yet to face the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), having requested an extension on the advice of his legal counsel.
CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II released CCTV footage earlier Wednesday allegedly showing Aplasca firing the initial shot during last week's chaos.
“We will be transmitting our findings to the DOJ (Department of Justice). It is up to the DOJ to assess,” Morico stated.
The CIDG has suggested that Aplasca and two of his staff be charged in connection with the gunfire that caused a disruption in the Senate last week.
Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman placed Aplasca on preventive suspension due to the incident at the Senate.
"The agent identified himself as NBI. Shortly thereafter, Aplasca fired three shots toward—shot three shots into the–not exactly the direction, but three shots towards the vicinity of the NBI agent. And you can see the muzzle fire there, the blast, one, two, three firearms, then the agent withdrew behind the air conditioning dock units," DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.
Aplasca was spotted on the Senate grounds this May 20 despite his suspension.
Written by Nicca Jade Devela
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