Senate Gunfire Fallout: Aplasca Suspended 6 Months Without Pay
Ombudsman Boying Remulla approved the six-month preventive suspension without pay of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca over the Senate gunfire incident.
The fallout from the Senate gunfire incident is getting heavier: Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has approved the preventive suspension of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca for six months without pay.
According to Rappler, the suspension took effect Friday, May 15, as the Ombudsman investigates the May 13 shooting incident inside the Senate. Remulla said authorities “can’t ignore something of this magnitude,” stressing that preventive suspension is meant to keep investigations impartial.
Aplasca became a central figure in the Senate chaos after he fired a warning shot during a confrontation involving the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and National Bureau of Investigation agents. The NBI had earlier gone to the Senate to serve an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who managed to avoid arrest.
NBI chief Melvin Matibag also said Aplasca is among the persons of interest in Dela Rosa’s disappearance, alongside Senator Robin Padilla. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, defended Aplasca and questioned the Ombudsman’s move, arguing that Matibag should also face suspension.
Remulla said the Ombudsman is looking at possible offenses including obstruction of justice, failure to maintain public order and safety, aiding or abetting a fugitive, and gross neglect of duty. Source: Rappler
