Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the decision of the Ombudsman to conduct its own investigation into the incident that took place at the Senate on Wednesday.
Cayetano said he had received information that the Ombudsman had placed Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca under preventive suspension pending the investigation.
According to the senator, the Senate leadership should have been formally informed about the suspension so that a replacement could immediately be assigned, especially with impeachment proceedings scheduled to begin on Monday.
Cayetano also appealed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to place NBI Director Melvin Matibag under preventive suspension as well.
He said Remulla has always shown an open mind in handling issues, prompting him to call for similar action against the NBI chief.
The Senate president argued that Matibag appeared “more suspect” than Aplasca in connection with the ongoing controversy surrounding the Senate incident.
Despite his appeal, Cayetano said he continues to hope that the investigation will not become politicized.
The Ombudsman has yet to issue a statement regarding Cayetano’s request to suspend Matibag. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident inside the Senate premises.
