Ombudsman says Senate refused to accept subpoena for CCTV footage of shooting

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday said the Senate refused to accept the subpoena issued for the CCTV footage of the shooting incident on Wednesday, and another summons for Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca.

"Nagkakaproblema ha. 'Yung aming process server, ayaw tanggapin sa Senate," Remulla said on dzRH's Executive Session radio program.

(There is a problem. The Senate did not accept our process server.)

"Pero may notice na eh. Sinabi nga ni Alan Cayetano dapat i-charge din si Matibag. Ibig sabihin alam na nila na meron talaga silang suspension na," he said.

(But there is a notice already. [Senate President] Alan Cayetano even said even [NBI Director Melvin] Matibag should be charged. That means they already knew there is a suspension.)

"Pero ayaw nilang tanggapin. 'Di ko sila naintindihan. Kasi sa akin considered served na 'yan kahit hindi nila tinanggap," Remulla added.

(But they do not want to accept [the subpoena]. I don't understand them. For me, that is already considered served.)

The Ombudsman on Friday placed Aplasca under preventive suspension for six months without pay for discharging his firearm that triggered the shooting incident in the Senate last Wednesday, May 13.

Remulla said such suspension is necessary amid the Ombudsman’s investigation into the matter.

Aplasca earlier admitted that he fired the first warning shot against National Bureau of Investigation agents who were at the GSIS building right beside the Senate.

Hours after the shooting incident, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was able to leave the Senate amid a standing International Criminal Court warrant on alleged crimes against humanity due to drug war deaths. Later in the day, Cayetano said Dela Rosa left the Senate with Senator Robin Padilla.

Subpoena vs. Aplasca

The Ombudsman said the Senate likewise refused to accept the subpoena for Aplasca, whom Remulla's office had preventively suspended for six months without pay for discharging his firearm that triggered the shooting incident.

"Ayaw tanggapin. 'Yan nga ang problema. (They don't want to accept it. That is the problem.) Look at the attitude. Sergeant-at-Arms 'yan... Security guard ng Senate 'yan. Ang trabaho niyan is to secure the Senate and make sure the rules are followed," Remulla said in the radio program Saturday.

"Para mag-warning shot ka sa (For you to fire a warning shot against) law enforcement, you think that you are above the law. Nobody is above the law, I'm sorry," he added.

Remulla said Friday the subpoena was issued to the Senate for the CCTV footage.

'Categorically disprove' allegations

While not directly responding to the Ombudsman’s claims, Aplasca said "official records categorically disprove allegations that no CCTV footage existed or was made available to authorities."

The acting Senate sergeant-at-arms said it formally received an official request, dated May 14, from Police Colonel John Guiagui of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection, Group Regional Field Unit, National Capital Region "for copies of CCTV footages relevant to the reported incident inside the Senate premises."

Aplasca said the OSAA voluntarily provided the requested CCTV footage on the same date to the PNP-CIDG RFU NCR.

"The extraction and turnover of the CCTV recordings were conducted with the participation and technical coordination of authorized PNP personnel. The certifications further affirmed that the CCTV footage provided was authentic, original, unaltered, and directly obtained from the official Senate CCTV system," the Senate sergeant-at-arms said.

Moreover, Aplasca said the OSAA remains fully cooperative with all legitimate investigative bodies and continues to uphold transparency, accountability, and the security of the Senate institution.

On Friday, Remulla also warned that those found liable for the shooting incident will face charges of obstruction of justice, aiding and abetting a fugitive from justice, failure to maintain public order and safety, gross neglect of duty, among others. —with a report from Ted Cordero/ KG/ VDV, GMA News