PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas on Monday, February 1, 2021, said one of the suspects in the killing of former Jolo Police chief Water Annayo is a relative of one of the four Philippine Army intelligence officers who were killed by the police at a checkpoint in Jolo in June 2020.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Police Regional Office in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) filed murder charges against Rasul Nahang Radja or Rasul Asula, Nara Kagatan Asula and five John Does over Annayo’s killing in November 21, 2020 in Maguindanao.

Sinas said the suspects are relatives of Corporal Abdal Asula, one of the four soldiers who were killed by policemen in Jolo in Sulu on June 29, 2020 while conducting operations against two suspected bombers in the area.

“Kamag-anak siya sa napatay doon,” Sinas said in a press conference in Camp Crame.

“Most likely yan ang tinitignan namin isa sa mga anggulo na gumanti sila sa chief of police,” he added.

Nine former Jolo policemen have been ordered arrested by the court for murder.

They are Abdelzhimar H. Padjiri, Hanie U. Baddiri, Iskandar I. Susulan, Ernisar P. Sappal, Sulki M. Andaki, Mohammad Nur E. Pasani, Almudzrin M. Hadjaruddin, Alkajal J. Mandangan and Rajiv G. Putalan.

They were earlier released by the PNP following their dismissal from the police service.

Sinas said Annayo’s killing indicates that the nine policemen, who are now in hiding, are in danger.

“If you want to surrender ay aasikasuhin namin but the manhunt is there. As to the threat of their life, andon na rin yun kasi nga noong finile-lan na ng kasi ay isa yun sa mga motive,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)