Senate majority backs Aplasca’s actions in Senate shooting

Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Ma. O Aplasca (Screenshot from YT) MANILA, Philippines — The majority bloc in the Senate said it is supporting acting Sergeant-at-Arms Ma.O Aplasca as they believe that the actions taken by the former police official was justifiable, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said on Friday. In a phone interview with reporters covering the Senate, Estrada was first asked if Aplasca overreacted when he fired a warning shot while facing National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel inside the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building. Estrada said that it was just a warning shot because they have heard reports that armed elements will enter the Senate soon. Article continues after this advertisement “He just fired a warning shot because the elements of the National Bureau of Investigation were reportedly trying to get in,” Estrada said, partly in Filipino. “My question is, the President said that they would not arrest Senator Bato. Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that too. So what are the elements of NBI doing there? What is their business inside the Senate building?, Estrada added. When asked if he the majority bloc supports Aplasca despite the controversy, Estrada answered in the affirmative, saying that he thinks the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage should be released for the people to know. On Wednesday night, two days after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa suddenly showed up at the Senate’s plenary session — the country was rocked with reports of gunfire inside the Senate’s halls. The exchange came amid rumors that dela Rosa will be served an arrest order from the International Criminal Court (ICC), based on crimes against humanity charges against him regarding his role in the past administration’s drug war. Article continues after this advertisement 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 fire a shot at an NBI personnel who was at the premises of the GSIS building. Eventually, Aplasca admitted that he was the first to fire the 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. Article continues after this advertisement Both the Senate building and the GSIS building are located within the GSIS complex in Pasay City. /gsg Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.