Ombudsman Suspends Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Over Shooting Incident
The Office of the Ombudsman in the Philippines has suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Ma. O Aplasca for six months following a shooting incident inside the Senate building. The suspension relates to tensions surrounding the attempted arrest of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla condemned Aplasca’s actions as unforgivable, particularly noting the irony and danger of firing warning shots at law enforcement officers within an enclosed structure. Aplasca admitted to discharging his firearm after NBI agents allegedly ignored verbal challenges during a standoff on May 13, 2026. The Ombudsman is investigating potential charges including obstruction of justice, gross neglect of duty, and failure to maintain public order. Remulla emphasized the need for an unbiased investigation to address public suspicions of a whitewash or staged event. The incident occurred amid efforts to arrest Dela Rosa based on an International Criminal Court warrant linking him to crimes against humanity under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. The Ombudsman plans to interview senators and media personnel present during the incident to establish facts.
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