Obstruction of justice complaint filed vs. Alan Peter Cayetano, Robin Padilla, Mao Aplasca

Opposition coalition Tindig Pilipinas and rights groups on Wednesday trooped to the Office of the Ombudsman and filed a complaint of obstruction of justice against Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robin Padilla and suspended acting Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca over the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate.

Complainants Francis Joseph "Kiko" Aquino Dee, Sylvia Estrada Claudio, Cielo Magno, Fr. Flavie Villanueva, and Randy delos Santos, the uncle of slain teenager Kian delos Santos, among others, were referring to the Senate shooting incident that transpired while Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was under protective custody of the Senate.

"The rule of law requires accountability. Public office must never be used as a shield against justice. When officials use their positions to frustrate lawful processes and protect their allies from accountability, they betray the public trust and undermine our democratic institutions," Aquino Dee said.

"The pursuit of justice for grave crimes is consistent with the country's commitment to the rule of law and human rights. The Office of the Ombudsman should conduct an impartial investigation and ensure that public officials who obstruct justice are held accountable under the law," the complainants added in a statement.

Other complainants include: Judy Ann Chan Miranda of Partido Manggagawa, Susan Balindo of Baigani Feminist Collective, Eugene Gonzalez and Yvonne Jereza of Magdalo Party, Matthew Silverio of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, Venus Crisostomo of Youth Resist, and Pinky Tam.

GMA News Online asked Cayetano, Padilla, and Aplasca for comment but they have yet to issue statements as of posting time.

Gunshots rang out at the Senate on the evening of May 13 while the building was placed on lockdown. It was a day after National Bureau of Investigation operatives attempted to serve a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court on dela Rosa in connection with the crimes against humanity case filed against former president Rodrigo Duterte for the extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs.

Aplasca fired warning shots at the Senate's glass windows.

READ: Senate shooting, lockdown: What went down

Cayetano said then that the Senate was "allegedly under attack."

Dela Rosa left the Senate with Padilla early Tuesday, hours after the shooting incident.

Dela Rosa has not been seen since then.

Asked for comment, Department of Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said the DOJ’s probe will proceed independently of any other investigation.

“The panel remains open to receiving any evidence that may assist in its investigation,” Martinez said in a message to reporters.

“Its findings, however, will be based on its own independent assessment of the evidence submitted to it and gathered in the course of its investigation,” he added. —with a report from Sundy Locus/KG/VBL, GMA News