Ombudsman: Senate rejects subpoena for shooting CCTV footage

The Senate allegedly declined a subpoena for a copy of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the shooting incident, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said on May 16, highlighting differing versions of cooperation with the investigation. 

In a press conference, Remulla stated that he issued the subpoena as part of an investigation of the shooting incident and will seek footage as well from the reporters who covered the incident.

“We have a problem with this. The Senate did not want to accept our process server but there was already a notice,” Remulla said in a dzRH radio program on May 15.

Remulla notified those found liable for the shooting incident will face a number of charges of obstruction of justice, assisting a fugitive from justice, gross neglect of duty, failure to maintain public order and safety, and others.

The Ombudsman hopes that the footage is all complete, amid allegations that some CCTV recordings may have been hidden and a possible attempt to tamper the incident.

While the Senate said to have rejected the Ombudsman’s request, suspended acting Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca said that they voluntarily provided the Police’s requested CCTV footage last May 14.

“The extraction and turnover of the CCTV recordings were conducted with the participation and technical coordination of authorized PNP personnel. The certifications further affirmed that the CCTV footage provided was authentic, original, unaltered, and directly obtained from the official Senate CCTV system,” the Senate sergeant-at-arms said.

The investigation into the Senate gunfire remains ongoing amid conflicting accounts.