The Office of the Ombudsman has meted a six-month suspension to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Ma. O Aplasca in connection with the shooting incident that occurred inside the Senate amid tensions over the looming arrest of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.
Ombudsman calls actions unforgivable
In a press conference on Friday, May 15, 2026, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla stated that Aplasca's actions were "unforgivable."
"The discharge of a firearm is disturbing. Firing a gun while you are inside a building, and the people you are shooting at are law enforcement officers -- that is so ironic, that you would fire a warning shot at law enforcement. I do not know where they are coming from on that matter," Remulla said.
He added, "That is worrisome because you are firing at law enforcement officers. Is he above the law enforcement? Is he higher than law enforcement? He is supposed to help the Senate maintain its rules, but if you are firing at law enforcement officers, that is a different matter. We do not tolerate that kind of behavior."
Details of the incident
Aplasca admitted to firing warning shots after National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents refused to heed their verbal challenge during an apparent standoff on Wednesday, May 13, amid confusion over the arrest of Dela Rosa.
Remulla said they are looking into various possible charges against Aplasca, including obstruction of justice, failure to maintain public order and safety within the Senate premises, and gross neglect of duty.
"You can throw the book at them because it is unforgivable for me. It is hard to forgive what they did, firing a gun inside the premises of an enclosed building. That is even more dangerous. It could have hit somebody," he said.
Investigation panel to be formed
Remulla announced that they are forming a panel to conduct an investigation into the incident. He said they will talk to senators, especially those present during the shooting, as well as members of the media who covered the event.
"There are many suspicions from the public, which is why we are doing this -- to allay fears that there will be a whitewash, or that the Ombudsman will not act on this matter. You are the only ones who can act fully and without bias. The problem here is that each of us has different reasons in different departments, but here in the Ombudsman, it is our duty to find out, determine, and inform the public of what happened from our perspective," he said.
"We will find out if it was staged. That is why we are investigating. There are allegations that this was a mock show, scripted. We will find out with the facts we are going to gather," he added.
Context of the shooting
On Wednesday evening, May 13, several gunshots were heard in the Senate amid alleged efforts by the NBI to arrest Dela Rosa based on the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Dela Rosa was identified as a co-perpetrator in the charges against detained former President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity of murder during the implementation of the drug war.
