By Itchie G. Cabayan
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced having placed retired Gen. Ma O Aplasca under preventive suspension for six months without pay, due to the shooting incident in the Senate building that took place on Wednesday evening, May 13.
Remulla described the event as ‘unforgiveable’ and worrisome, noting that Aplasca admitted having fired the first shots that started the whole chaos, supposedly as ‘warning shots.’
He also said that the suspension is necessary as the Ombudsman conducts its probe into the matter.
Remulla said Aplasca has been placed under preventive suspension pending the outcome of an investigation, stressing that it would be alarming if he (Aplasca) will not be made to answer, since he started the whole incident.
“Siya po ang unang nagpaputok. Papaputukan mo, law enforcement? We do not tolerate that. He can appeal, pero hindi puwedeng may taong maaaring makaimpluwensiya sa mga bagay na kailangan nating mabungkal rito sa Senado. Kaya may preventive suspension para walang undue influence sa investigation.”
Regarding Aplasca’s claim that the warning shots came after the NBI personnel were asked to identify themselves and appeared to be putting their guns up, Remulla said: “papaputukan mo, law enforcement? Is he higher? He’s supposed to help Senate maintain rules…he admitted having fired the first warning shots.” Reports have it that 27 gunshots came from the OSAA while five came from the NBI’s end.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida meanwhile said that ‘given the current circumstances’, he sees no reason as to why National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag will have to be suspended too, in response to a call made by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
Aplasca was head of the office of sergeant-at-arms (OSAA) at the Senate when the shooting incident erupted and Dela Rosa was able to get out of the Senate premises, where he was supposedly being kept under protective custody.
It will also be recalled that Aplasca was also head of the Office for Transport Security (OTS) at the NAIA when the incident of a personnel swallowing dollars taken from a complaining passenger went viral on social media.
