Manila, Oct. 29 -- Former Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca on Wednesday filed his counter-affidavit to the direct assault charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors in line with the shooting incident on May 13 at the Senate premises.

Speaking to reporters during the preliminary investigation, Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Polo Martinez said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) was given until Nov. 6 to file a reply to the counter-affidavit.

Martinez said other Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) officials named as respondents had filed their counter-affidavits ahead of Aplasca.

"The PNP-CIDG have until November 6 to file a reply if they opt to after ...