Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano is calling for the suspension of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag in the wake of a shooting incident that occurred at the Senate.
This appeal comes after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that Acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca would face a six-month preventive suspension for firing warning shots at NBI agents.
I heard the Ombudsman will do an independent investigation. That is good news but I also heard that he issued a suspension against General Mao. Let me just appeal to the Ombudsman, suspend also the NBI Director because he is more a suspect than General Mao.
Alan Peter Cayetano, Senate President
The incident sparked a lockdown at the Senate on Wednesday evening when gunfire erupted. Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa' , who is currently under protective custody due to an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC), was present during the shooting.
According to an initial investigation by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, a total of 32 shots were fired during the incident—27 from Aplasca's side and 5 from the NBI.
Cayetano criticized Matibag's role, asserting that the NBI is not responsible for securing the area. He expressed concern over Matibag's credibility and his influence on the President.
Amid the investigation, Cayetano emphasized the need for the Ombudsman to keep the Senate informed, especially with the possibility of the Senate convening as an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte.
We do not want to set a bad example in the independent investigation, and we do not want to put the Senate in harm's way,