The Philippine Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from government service of former acting Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Ranada Aplasca, following an administrative investigation into a shooting incident inside the Senate compound in May. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla said he signed the dismissal order on June 29, wrapping up weeks of inquiry into gunfire that rattled the upper chamber’s premises in Pasay City.

Remulla disclosed the decision in his DZRH radio program "Executive Session" on Saturday, July 4, but withheld specific findings, saying the full written ruling would soon be made public. He described the case as "very serious" and said the detailed legal and factual basis for Aplasca’s removal would be better understood once the decision is released. The Ombudsman earlier placed Aplasca under preventive suspension without pay for six months on May 15, citing the need to prevent him from influencing the investigation.

Aplasca, a retired police general and classmate (mistah) of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, had served as acting Senate sergeant-at-arms and as sergeant-at-arms of the Commission on Appointments. He was tagged as the official who allegedly fired the gun during the May 13 incident inside the Senate building, which sits next to the Government Service Insurance System complex in Pasay. It remains unclear whether his dismissal will affect his pension as a retired officer, and the Ombudsman has not yet confirmed the specific administrative offense for which he was found liable, beyond noting that dismissal is among the gravest penalties available.

The Ombudsman’s move now places the spotlight on how the Senate will respond to the order. Implementation of Ombudsman rulings against sitting or former officials has been contentious in the past. When then-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal of Senator Joel Villanueva, then Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III refused to enforce it, and the order was later reversed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires. Remulla acknowledged that his office will publish the Aplasca decision in full, signaling a bid for transparency as the case again tests the balance between the Ombudsman’s disciplinary authority and the Senate’s institutional prerogatives.

Ruko yang selama hampir dua tahun tampak kosong di kawasan Perumahan Taman Puri Cendana, Desa Sumberjaya, Kecamatan Tambun Selatan, Kabupaten Bekasi, mendadak menjadi sorotan setelah terungkap diduga menjadi lokasi penambangan aset kripto dengan memanfaatkan listrik ilegal. Temuan itu berawal dari kegiatan kerja bakti warga dan penataan bangunan pada Selasa, 30 Juni 2026, yang kemudian berujung pada tindakan Penertiban Pemakaian Tenaga Listrik (P2TL) oleh PT PLN (Persero) ULP Tambun.

Manager Komunikasi dan TJSL PLN UID Jawa Barat, Darry Giovanno, menjelaskan, laporan warga dan perangkat lingkungan terkait kondisi mencurigakan di ruko tersebut diteruskan kepada petugas PLN yang tengah bertugas di sekitar lokasi. Dalam pemeriksaan, tim P2TL menemukan instalasi kelistrikan yang diduga digunakan untuk aktivitas penambangan aset kripto dengan sambungan listrik ilegal yang terhubung langsung ke jaringan PLN tanpa melalui kWh meter. Di dalam ruko, terdapat sejumlah peralatan kelistrikan, termasuk MCB yang masih tersambung listrik.

Dari lokasi, petugas mendapati 12 unit komputer/server rakitan berdaya tinggi yang terhubung dengan sistem pendingin berkapasitas besar dan masih beroperasi kendati bangunan tampak tidak berpenghuni. Dalam unggahan video di akun Instagram @mudamudi.pc, disebutkan PLN telah membongkar dugaan pencurian listrik untuk aktivitas crypto mining di Bekasi, mengamankan 12 server mining, dan langsung memutus sambungan listrik ilegal. PLN kemudian membawa barang bukti berupa kabel dan sejumlah peralatan ke Kantor PLN ULP Tambun.

Kabid Humas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Budi Hermanto mengungkapkan, kegiatan P2TL PLN tersebut mendapat pengamanan dari Satpamobvit Polres Metro Bekasi dan berangkat dari kecurigaan petugas catat meter atas pemakaian listrik yang tidak sesuai ketentuan. Setelah dipastikan terdapat sambungan listrik ilegal tiga fasa di ruko itu, PLN bersama aparat memutus aliran dan melaporkan kasus tersebut ke Polres Metro Bekasi. Kasat Reskrim Polres Metro Bekasi AKBP Jerico Levian menyatakan, dugaan aktivitas tambang bitcoin ilegal di lokasi itu masih dalam tahap penyelidikan. PLN menegaskan komitmennya menjaga keandalan pasokan listrik dan mengimbau masyarakat menggunakan listrik secara legal serta melaporkan setiap dugaan penyalahgunaan melalui aplikasi PLN Mobile atau Contact Center PLN 123.