Manila:Former Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca has filed his counter-affidavit to the direct assault charges linked to a shooting incident on May 13 at the Senate premises. This submission was made on Wednesday before the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors.

According to Philippines News Agency, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez stated that the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has been given until November 6 to file a reply to Aplasca's counter-affidavit. Martinez also noted that other officials from the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), who were named as respondents, had already submitted their counter-affidavits prior to Aplasca.

The prosecution has scheduled November 13 as the tentative deadline for all documents to be submitted. Martinez mentioned that after this date, the prosecutors will determine if there is a prima facie case to file charges. The Office of the Ombudsman had previously ordered Aplasca's dismissal from service, citing administrative liability for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty related to the incident.

The Ombudsman found that Aplasca’s act of firing warning shots during the incident was unjustified, endangered lives, violated established rules on the use of force, and demonstrated a disregard for his responsibilities as the Senate official in charge of maintaining security and order. Aplasca defended his actions, stating he believed unidentified armed individuals posed a threat to the Senate, necessitating the use of warning shots.