Aplasca insists ‘attack’ happened in Senate despite DILG report

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May 20, 2026 | 6:39pm

MANILA, Philippines — Suspended acting Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca insisted that they were under attack on May 13, claiming that the video evidence shown by the authorities in a press conference on Tuesday, May 19 were spliced.

“We are preparing the complete video, because what they did, they spliced the videos and they just selected the videos that will support their narrative – and I think it’s not correct,” Aplasca told the media in the Senate on Wednesday, May 20, during an ambush interview.

When asked to clarify what narrative he is referring to, Aplasca said: “‘Yung sabi nila walang attack.”

(Their [The authorities’] claim that there was no attack.)

It was the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who earlier presented CCTV footage in an afternoon press conference in Malacañang to disprove the claims that the Senate was under attack on the night of the shooting incident.

“All evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate. I would like to repeat, all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. 

The Palace also backed this statement. 

“Was it under attack? It was not. The Senate was not under attack,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

Instead, Remulla and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. described it as a “gun-related incident.”

Moreover, Aplasca also maintained that he only fired one warning shot, contrary to the DILG’s claim that he fired three.

Footage also showed that he was firing at an unclear target.

CIDG’s plan to file charges is ‘expected’

Aplasca said that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)’s recommendation to file charges against him and two other Senate personnel was “expected.”

The recommendation came after Aplasca was seen in CCTV firing his firearm first.

The CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Wednesday that Aplasca and his personnel had no valid reason to use their guns under the Republic Act No. 11917 or the Private Security Services Industry Act.

Aplasca said that he was not able to face the CIDG yet, but he was able to talk to General Morico on Tuesday.

“Our lawyers advised me to ask for an extension because we are not prepared,” Aplasca explained.

According to the CIDG, Aplasca had surrendered the gun he used and is currently undergoing a ballistic examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory.