Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla suspended Acting Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Mao Aplasca following the shooting incident at the Senate Wednesday evening.

In a press conference, Remulla announced the six-month suspension without pay of Aplasca that will start Friday.

"There was a recommendation, and I signed for the six-month suspension of the Acting Sergeant-At-Arms of the Senate, Mao Aplasca, for what happened the other night and it's a preventive suspension meant to make things easier for us to get to the bottom of things," he said.

"I sent the order to the Senate. This kind of incident is unacceptable, especially because he is acting as sergeant-at-arms and yet he was the first to fire his gun, it's worrisome; if we allow this to go unpunished, we cannot ignore something like this magnitude," he added.

Remulla explained that Aplasca can file an appeal but he noted the importance of the preventive suspension to prevent those who were involved in the incident from influencing the investigation.

He noted that the investigation will not only cover the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) of the Senate but also the National Bureau of Investigation, the police and other personalities like Senator Robin Padilla and Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Remulla also mentioned that the Office of the Ombudsman is forming a panel of investigators that would be complete by the end of the day, so that the issuance of subpoena can start as early as next week.

He said the possible violations that may be filed following the incident include "obstruction of justice, failure to maintain public order and safety in the Senate premises, aiding or abetting a criminal or a fugitive of justice, gross neglect of duty, and others." Robina Asido/PHS