The acting head of the Senate’s Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) on Friday said he fired the first warning shot during a shooting incident inside the Senate complex earlier this week after allegedly spotting armed personnel he identified as members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Speaking in DZRH’s Dos Por Dos, OSAA Acting Head Mao Aplasca confirmed he discharged a warning shot from the second floor of the Senate building on Wednesday night, May 13, citing rules of engagement and what he described as a perceived threat to his personnel.
“Oo, ako mismo nagpaputok ng warning shot,” Aplasca said, adding that it was directed upward from a ledge near an emergency exit to avoid hitting anyone.
Aplasca said the group had already identified themselves as NBI agents but claimed their posture — including holding long firearms in what he described as a threatening manner — prompted the response.
“Kasi nakita namin na may mahahabang baril sila, kasi dapat ibababa nila ang kanilang baril, yon ang challenge namin pero parang doon sa aming observation, sa nakita namin parang may threat yung pagkahawak nila ng baril kaya kami nagpaputok ng warning shot.”
The incident escalated into an exchange of gunfire shortly afterward, although Aplasca said it was unclear who fired first after the warning shot. He noted that his team retreated and shifted to defensive positions once shots were returned.
Aplasca maintained that OSAA personnel did not intend to hit the NBI agents, saying the trajectory of their shots remained upward even during the exchange.
“Kasi medyo malapit. Halos harapan lang po ito. Kung ang intention po namin ay patamaan sila, sigurado matatamaan sila,” he said.
He also acknowledged that some of the bullet holes found in the Senate’s glass windows likely came from OSAA personnel.
“Alam ko yung mga ibang tama salamin, amin po yun. Kasi ako personally, doon po din ako nag-aim ng mga succeeding shots,” Aplasca said, adding that he personally aimed some of the succeeding shots in that direction.
The shooting incident occurred as media and Senate personnel awaited developments regarding Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, following reports that the Supreme Court had denied his petition for a temporary restraining order.
Authorities have yet to release a full account of the incident, including the exact sequence of events and the total number of shots fired. Aplasca said he could not recall how many rounds were discharged during the exchange.
He added that while closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage captured movements on the NBI side, there was no available footage showing the positions or actions of OSAA personnel during the incident.
After the incident, Dela Rosa reportedly left the Senate premises, allegedly accompanied by Sen. Robin Padilla.
The senator was placed under the Senate’s protective custody, but a message relayed by his wife indicated he chose to leave as Dela Rosa believed his continued stay inside the chamber could further complicate the situation for other officials, noting that authorities would likely not storm the Senate while he remained inside.
Earlier, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano denied allegations that the shooting was a “diversionary tactic” meant to help Dela Rosa evade a possible arrest tied to a reported International Criminal Court warrant.
Investigations of the shooting incident are ongoing, according to officials.
