National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag insisted that Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano should be suspended first before anyone else in connection with the recent shooting incident in the Senate. Matibag believes that Senator Cayetano is the primary person who should face suspension due to the events that occurred last week.
This statement comes in response to the lawmaker's call for Matibag to also be suspended after the Office of the Ombudsman issued a preventive suspension against Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca. The Ombudsman suspended Aplasca to preserve possible evidence he may hold regarding the shooting incident.
Matibag expressed readiness to face investigation and any penalties if proven responsible or liable. He emphasized that if command responsibility is the basis, the head of the Senate should be the one suspended. However, he deferred the investigation to the Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically citing the Special Panel of Prosecutors formed by Justice Secretary Frederick to focus on the shooting.
Matibag firmly denied claims that the Senate was under attack during the incident.
