Aplasca refutes assault charges over May standoff

Former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca submitted his counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday formally denying direct assault charges stemming from an armed standoff at the Senate building in May.

DoJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez confirmed that Aplasca filed his defense during the third preliminary investigation hearing into the criminal complaint lodged by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).

Following the submission, state prosecutors granted the PNP-CIDG until 6 November to file a reply-affidavit to counter Aplasca’s defense.

“The PNP-CIDG as the complainant was given until 6 November to file their reply in case they wish to do so,” Martinez said. “It is an option for the PNP-CIDG; they don’t have to, but they can.”

If the police investigative group chooses to file a reply, Aplasca and two co-respondents from the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) will have until 13 November to submit their rejoinder-affidavits.

“If they do file their reply-affidavit, then the respondents Mao Aplasca as well as the two other respondents from OSAA will also have their chance to file their rejoinder-affidavit in response to any new allegations,” Martinez said.

The criminal complaint stemmed from a 13 May confrontation between OSAA security personnel and National Bureau of Investigation agents inside the Senate premises.

NBI agents were attempting to execute an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa when the conflict escalated.

Investigators alleged that Aplasca ordered his personnel into an armed standoff and fired warning shots at the approaching law enforcement agents who were attempting to perform their official duties.

The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Aplasca from government service in July after finding him guilty of grave misconduct related to the security incident.