PNP: OSAA gunshots during Senate shooting was 'overkill'

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday described as "overkill" the amount of shots fired by Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) personnel during the Senate shooting on May 13.

In a press briefing, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Police Major General Robert Alexander Morico II said ballistic and trajectory analysis indicated excessive firing from OSAA personnel.

"Based on the investigation conducted by our investigators, basically overkill. That's why we call it panic firing," Morico said.

"Because 'yung mga tama po doon ng mga bala makikita natin through the glass window ay sobra-sobra 'yung pinaputok doon ng OSAA na wala namang umaatake sa kanila. Because kung makikita po ninyo doon na puro pataas 'yung trajectory ng mga putok nila is puro paakyat," he added.

(Because we can see through the glass window that OSAA fired too many shots when no one was attacking them. Because if you can see, the trajectory of their shots is all going up.)

Morico said a total of 44 fired cartridge cases were recovered from the crime scene. Of the number, 36 were inside the Senate premises while eight were outside, particularly near the bridgeway leading to the GSIS compound.

Tale of the bullets

Four firearms were involved in the exchange of gunfire, according to Morico.

Ballistics examination showed that 26 fired cartridge cases were from a 9 mm CZ Scorpion Evo firearm used by suspended Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca. Morico explained that while the CZ Scorpion Evo resembles a long firearm, it uses 9 mm ammunition.

Meanwhile, nine cases were from a .40-caliber pistol, and four from another CZ Scorpion Evo. These were found to be fired by two other OSAA personnel, respectively.

On the part of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), five fired cartridge cases were from 5.56 Galil Ace rifle used by a one of its agents.

Morico confirmed that recommendations have already been submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for possible violations of existing laws and regulations governing the use of firearms.

On Wednesday, the CIDG said it is recommending the filing of charges against Aplasca and two other Senate security personnel for violating the Private Security Services Industry Act.

NBI volunteer

The CIDG chief also addressed questions regarding the NBI volunteer arrested amid tensions during the May 13 Senate shooting, saying their investigation and review of CCTV footage showed that he was not present at the crime scene when the incident occurred.

"Yes, based on our investigation, ma’am, and the review of CCTV footage, he was not there during the time na nagkaroon ng putukan (he was not there during the time of the shooting)," Morico said.

He added that only one NBI operative was identified as having fired a weapon during the incident.

"Both sa side ng Senate building and the GSIS building, isang NBI lang po ang nagpaputok," he said.

(Both on the side of the Senate building and the GSIS building, only one NBI agent fired shots.)

The NBI volunteer was arrested by Pasay police last week following the shooting incident at the Senate. He is currently facing charges before the Pasay Regional Trial Court and has posted bail.

Gunpowder

Morico further clarified that testing positive for gunpowder residue does not automatically mean a person fired a weapon.

“It means na he was exposed sa gunpowder,” he said.

The CIDG chief likewise said no charges were recommended against two NBI agents involved in the operation.

“Based on our findings, the concerned two NBI agents acted professionally. So we did not recommend any violation of law against them,” Morico said.

The shooting incident remains under investigation as authorities await the DOJ’s evaluation of the CIDG’s findings and recommendations. — VDV, GMA News