DOJ requests accounting of firearms owned by Senate

By Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency

GUNFIRE INCIDENT. Armed Philippine Marines troops stationed at the Senate take defensive position after a volley of gunshots was fired, prompting a security lockdown on May 13, 2026. The Department of Justice on Tuesday (May 26) said government prosecutors have asked for an accounting of the firearms owned by the Senate. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – Government prosecutors have asked for an accounting of the firearms owned by the Senate, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Tuesday.

“Our special panel of prosecutors have issued a subpoena to the Office of the Senate Secretary directing the production of documents relevant to the ongoing fact-finding investigation, particularly, we have asked for the oath of office of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Ret. Gen. Mao Aplasca,” DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida told reporters in a press briefing

“We have also requested for a summary or inventory of firearms available and owned by the Senate and their corresponding issuance documents to corresponding Senate officials and employees,” he added.

Vida said the DOJ also asked for the Senate’s security logs.

“Di ba you are familiar with going in and out of the Senate every time you go in, you identify yourself, you put in the time, you put in the details of your entry into the Senate. And when you also exit, there are also particular details on that matter. We requested for those documents,” he said

The DOJ also issued a subpoena to the Commission on Audit to produce records relating to the inventory of assets, particularly firearms owned by the Senate.

The justice department particularly requested the CZ “Scorpion” assault pistol seen in videos of the May 13 shooting incident, involving Senate security personnel led by Aplasca and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Vida said some persons may be held liable for obstruction of justice.

“(T)here are several acts punished under the rule: concealing evidence, tampering with evidence, witness tampering, misleading authorities, delaying legal processes,” he said.

“And let me remind you, if you are a public official or employee found guilty of committing these acts, there is an accessory penalty that you will be perpetually disqualified from holding public office,” he added.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Robert AA Morico II earlier said criminal complaints would be filed against Aplasca and at least two of his men who were found to have discharged their firearms during the controversial May 13 incident.

Morico said the actions of Aplasca and his personnel constituted a clear violation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11917, or the Private Security Services Industry Act, which was enacted in 2022 during the term of then-Senate president Vicente Sotto III.

He said the IRR clearly states that a warning shot is not included in the six stages that need to be observed before the use of lethal force.

Under the RA 11917, private security personnel are required to follow a six-level “force continuum”: alert presence (Level 1); verbal communication (Level 2); physical restraints (Level 3); use of chemical agents (Level 4); temporary incapacitation (Level 5); and use of force or firearms (Level 6).