Cayetano to Ombudsman: Suspend Matibag if Aplasca is sanctioned

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has called on the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag if they would suspend those involved in the exchange of gunfire in Wednesday’s Senate shootout. — Photo from Senate Social Media Unit MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has called on the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag if they would suspend those involved in the exchange of gunfire in Wednesday’s Senate shootout. Cayetano went live on his Facebook on Friday following Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s order of preventive suspension against Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca after the shooting incident in the Senate. For Cayetano, Matibag is more of a suspect than Aplasca. Aplasca admitted on Thursday night that he fired the warning shot against NBI personnel inside the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building. Article continues after this advertisement “Let me just appeal to the Ombudsman, suspend also the NBI director, because he is more (of) a suspect than General Mao here. We do not want to set a bad example in the independent investigation, and we do not want to put the Senate in harm’s way,” Cayetano said. “(What will happen) if we tell the OSAA, the Marines, the PNP, who are all there, that when there are armed men all around the Senate, we cannot defend ourselves?” he added. READ: Ombudsman Remulla suspends Aplasca over Senate shooting According to Cayetano, any person would have acted the same as Aplasca — giving a verbal warning and then a warning shot — if armed men in tactical gear were approaching their home. “Who among you, my fellow Filipinos, that when you are warned not to come near our homes, and they continued to move forward while in full tactical gear and holding long firearms, who among you would not issue a verbal warning to retreat, and who would not make a warning shot?” the Senate president said. Article continues after this advertisement “And after you issued a warning shot, you expected them to move away. But what was their reaction? They fired towards the Senate. It is the first time — what I know is that exchange of fire only happened at the Batasan, when there was a coup d’etat, I don’t remember now if that was 87 or 89, and I don’t even know if it was inside the Batasan, but it is the first time here in the Senate that guns were fired,” he added. On Wednesday night — two days after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa suddenly showed up at the Senate’s plenary session after a six-month absence — the country was rocked with reports of gunfire inside the Senate’s halls. Article continues after this advertisement The exchange came amid rumors that NBI personnel will serve an arrest order against dela Rosa, based on a warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the crimes against humanity charges against him. This was for dela Rosa’s role in the past administration’s drug war. In a press briefing on Thursday, Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla separately said that Aplasca was the first to discharge his firearm. Eventually, Aplasca admitted firing the first warning shot, reasoning out that it is unusual for NBI agents not to coordinate with them when they are in the vicinity — even if they are in the adjacent GSIS building. Both the Senate building and the GSIS building are located within the GSIS complex in Pasay City. READ: Senate shooting: Aplasca admits being first to fire vs NBI personnel Senators have rushed to Aplasca’s defense. Aside from Cayetano, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said the majority bloc stands behind the Sergeant-at-Arms, saying that the actions taken were justifiable. In a phone interview with reporters covering the Senate, Estrada was asked if Aplasca overreacted by firing a warning shot against NBI personnel. Estrada said that it was just a warning shot because they had heard reports that armed elements would enter the Senate soon. READ: Senate majority backs Aplasca’s actions in Senate shooting Several personalities have lamented the incident at the Senate, saying that the exchange of gunfire could have been avoided. In an interview with DZMM on Thursday, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said the lack of stability and control can be attributed to a “failure of leadership” from both Malacañang and the Senate. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. On Thursday, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, as well as the Makabayan bloc’s ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said that the matter could have been resolved if only dela Rosa surrendered to the proper authorities./coa