The Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) acting chief Mao Aplasca on Friday explained his decision to fire a warning shot during the May 13 gunfire incident inside the Senate building in Pasay City.
Reason for warning shot
Aplasca admitted that he discharged the warning shot after observing armed individuals, later identified as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel, within Senate jurisdiction. He stated that warning shots are standard protocol when there is a perceived danger to the lives of police officers. OSAA personnel initially challenged the armed individuals, requesting identification and ordering them to lower their firearms, but the individuals did not comply.
Lack of coordination
Aplasca emphasized that the NBI failed to coordinate with OSAA prior to their operation. He clarified that he fired only once, noting that based on his experience, a warning shot should not be repeated. When questioned about why media and civilians were not fully cleared from the area before the confrontation, Aplasca acknowledged that clearing the area would have been proper but explained that OSAA had limited time to act.
Ongoing investigation
Aplasca stated that OSAA is still reviewing closed-circuit television footage and other materials to establish the exact sequence of events. Aplasca, a retired police major general, previously served as Senate Sergeant-at-Arms from July 2025 to February 2026 and was earlier Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives in 2020-2021. He also held senior positions in the Philippine National Police, including Director for Operations, Calabarzon Region director, and Aviation Security Group director.
