Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177925326325920260513-senate-secuirty-bato-arrest-aplasca-JC1931 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate security is on heightened alert amid reports of the imminent service of an arrest warrant against Senator Bato dela Rosa on May 13, 2026. Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca insisted that no arrest can be implemented without an order from a local court and an instruction from Senate President Alan Cayetano. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em> <br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — Retired police general Mao Aplasca, who has been suspended as acting Senate sergeant-at-arms, insisted on Wednesday that the Senate was under attack last May 13 despite findings of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to the contrary.</p><p>The DILG and PNP announced their findings in a press conference in Malacañang on Tuesday.</p><p>“Yes, we will show you,” Aplasca told reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/dilg-chief-all-evidence-points-no-attack-on-senate-1622">DILG chief: &#x27;All evidence points no attack on Senate&#x27; </a></div><p>“It&#x27;s their own version but officially the Senate will answer all of these questions,” Aplasca said. “You saw the videos.”</p><p>Aplasca alleged the videos that authorities showed were spliced to &quot;support their narrative.&quot;</p><p>“We are preparing the complete videos,” he remarked.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/all-gunshots-came-from-inside-senate-building-investigations-show-2256">Most gunshots came from inside the Senate building, investigations show</a></div><p>Aplasca refused to say what exactly was spliced and asked for more time for the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms to release its own videos.</p><p>He also denied the statement of the DILG and PNP that he fired three warning shots, saying he only fired one.</p><p>He confirmed having a meeting on May 12 with the Government Service Insurance System but said there was no discussion about the National Bureau of Investigation securing the GSIS building on May 13.</p><p>According to Aplasca, the meeting was about the impending impeachment process and security preparations for it.</p><p>Aplasca has not yet appeared before the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group after lawyers advised him to ask for an extension.</p><p>He assured the public that OSAA is not hiding anything and will submit all evidence, including CCTV footage and firearms.</p><p>He also said the filing of a case against him is expected.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FIREARM</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, the CIDG said Aplasca had surrendered his firearm, which is undergoing ballistic examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory.</p><p>Earlier, CIDG director Police Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II presented CCTV footage showing Aplasca was the first to fire his weapon during the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman last week placed Aplasca, the Senate&#x27;s acting sergeant-at-arms, on preventive suspension for six months over the gunfire incident at the chamber last Wednesday night.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/15/ombudsman-places-senate-security-chief-aplasca-on-preventive-suspension-1413">Ombudsman places Senate security chief Aplasca on preventive suspension</a></div><p>Despite his suspension, Aplasca was seen at the Senate premises on Wednesday, May 20. <strong></strong><strong>—With a report from Darylle Sarmiento, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/amceHreZqOc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mkz4ikmOQrs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca has surrendered his firearm to the CIDG, and is now undergoing ballistic examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory.</p>

Suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca has surrendered his firearm to the CIDG, and is now undergoing ballistic examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory.

Aplasca maintains Senate was under attack, surrenders firearm

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Aplasca maintains Senate was under attack, surrenders firearm

Victoria Tulad,

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 20, 2026 01:10 PM PHT

|

Updated May 20, 2026 08:39 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

Mao Aplasca

CIDG

Senate gunfire incident

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