The conduct of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms in firing at law enforcement personnel during the May 13 Senate shooting incident goes beyond obstruction of justice, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said Friday, as he laid out at least three charges against those found liable and called their actions “unforgivable.”
“Definitely. Hindi lang ‘yan obstruction of justice,” Remulla said during a press conference Friday afternoon, signaling that the Ombudsman intends to pursue the full weight of the law against those responsible.
Remulla enumerated the charges being considered: obstruction of justice, failure to maintain public order and safety within Senate premises, and aiding and abetting a criminal or fugitive from justice.
“Marami ‘yan, marami. You can throw the book at them. Kasi unforgivable para sa akin,” he said, adding that gross neglect of duty is also among the charges being weighed on top of the three already identified.
The Ombudsman was particularly pointed in his assessment of Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, who he said fired the first shot at NBI agents on the GSIS side of the complex without justification.
“Ikaw unang paputok, ano ‘yun ‘di ba? Sergeant-at-Arms pa, ikaw mag-uumpisa kumbaga sa away, ikaw na ‘tong sumimula. You caused the commotion by discharging a firearm,” Remulla said.
Remulla questioned what authority Aplasca believed he had to fire at law enforcement, saying the Sergeant-at-Arms’ role is to maintain Senate rules — not to discharge firearms at agents of the state.
“Pagpuputukan mo law enforcement. Ano siya, mas mataas sa law enforcement? Is he higher than law enforcement? He’s supposed to help the Senate maintain the rules of the Senate. Pero para paputukan mo ang law enforcement, ibang usapan ‘yan. Hindi natin tinotolerate yung ganyang behavior. We do not tolerate that,” he said.
The Ombudsman noted that Aplasca was the first to put on a bulletproof vest before the incident, which Remulla said pointed to clear intent.
“Siya yung unang-una nagsuot ng bulletproof vest, yung nag-report sa’kin. Talagang meron talagang intensyon,” he said, adding that discharging a firearm inside an enclosed building could have hit anyone—senators, staff, or members of the media present at the time.
Remulla stressed that the magnitude of what occurred cannot be ignored, saying the actions of those involved crossed a fundamental line.
“Mahirap patawarin yung ginawa nilang ‘yun na nagpaputok ng baril sa loob ng premises ng enclosed building. Mas lalong delikado ‘yun, it could have hit somebody,” he said, adding that the shell-shock experienced by media personnel present during the gunfire underscored the gravity of the situation.
On the question of whether the incident was staged, Remulla said the investigation will determine the truth—and that the Ombudsman cannot accept the possibility of a cover-up going unaddressed.
“There are allegations na ito’y ginawang moro-moro, scripted. Tingnan natin kung scripted ito. We will find out from the facts as we are able to gather everything properly,” he said, adding that if it was staged, the question of who orchestrated it and who was complicit must be answered.
Remulla said the Ombudsman has formed an investigation panel that will be complete by end of Friday, with subpoenas to be issued as early as next week covering all parties—senators, OSAA, NBI, PNP, DILG, and media witnesses who can provide affidavits on what they witnessed.
He added that the investigation scope extends beyond the OSAA to everyone present during the standoff, including senators, and that the Ombudsman will coordinate with the DOJ on possible overlapping investigations.
(Photo by Eloisa Lopez/Reuters)
