A MILITARY official said on Thursday, July 9, 2020, that the tension between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Jolo, Sulu subsided after the nine policemen involved in the shooting of soldiers were moved to Camp Crame.

“Malaking tulong yun dahil nga naibsan ang agam-agam na magkaroon ng whitewash at the same time ‘yung tension ay nabawasan,” he said.

(It was a big help in allaying fears of a whitewash and easing the tension.)

The four soldiers, who were on a mission to locate suspected terrorists, were killed at a police checkpoint in Jolo on June 29.

They were identified as Major Marvin Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula.

Managuelod’s widow AJ said that although they were still grieving, they were relieved that the investigation is underway.

“I just hope that eventually the truth will come out and justice will prevail,” she said.

Meanwhile, Encinas discounted the possibility of rido, or clan war. One of the victims was a Muslim with five relatives who are still in military service. He said army officials will not let such a conflict happen.

“’Yung ating mga ground commanders alam nila yung paano i-handle ‘yung kanilang mga tropa kung kaya’t tayo ay natutuwa na mas nabigyan ng guidance ‘yung mga kasundaluhan na wag pairalin ang emosyon,” he said.

The cops involved are Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar H. Padjiri, Master Sergeant Hanie U. Baddiri, Staff Sergeant Iskandar I. Susulan, Staff Sergeant Ernisar P. Sappal, Corporal Sulki M. Andaki and Patrolman Moh Nur E. Pasani, all members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station Alert Team; and Staff Sergeant Almudzrin M. Hadjaruddin, Patrolmen Alkajal J. Mandangan, and Rajiv G. Putalan from the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of Sulu.

They were brought to Camp Crame on July 7 where they were placed under restrictive custody while the investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ongoing. (SunStar Philippines)