9 cops charged with murder of 4 soldiers

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, filed murder and planting of evidence charges against nine policemen who were involved in a shooting incident that killed four army personnel in Jolo, Sulu.

Those charged 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 who were all members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station Alert Team; and Staff Sergeant Almudzrin M. Hadjaruddin, Patrolmen Alkajal J. Mandangan, and Rajiv G. Putalan who were assigned to the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of Sulu.

The NBI also recommended the filing of charges for neglect of duty against Sulu Police Provincial Office Director Michael Bawayan, Jolo Police chief Major Walter Annayo and Sulu Provincial Drugs Enforcement Unit chief Captain Ariel Corcino.

NBI Western Mindanao Regional Director Moises Tamayo led the filing of four counts of murder and planting of evidence against them before the Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday.

The four soldiers - Major Marvin Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula - were killed at a police checkpoint in Jolo on June 29, 2020.

Police initially claimed it was a “misencounter” but the Philippine Army, enraged by the death of the four soldiers, said the soldiers did not fire a single shot.

They were on a mission to find suspected terrorists in Jolo when they were stopped at a checkpoint and shot dead.

The incident caused tension between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), compelling President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the troops in Zamboanga City first and later in Jolo.

Duterte appealed to both the military and police avert hostilities, as he vowed to ferret out the truth and punish those liable.

The President had directed the NBI to conduct the investigation.

The nine policemen, who have been moved to Camp Crame to ensure their availability during the investigation, earlier faces the NBI investigators but declined to give a statement and invoked their right to remain silent.

The NBI made its recommendations based on the affidavits of witnesses and the result of the ballistic and forensic examination.

The policemen, through their lawyers, said they will submit their affidavits to the prosecutor once the NBI files charges against them. (SunStar Philippines)