PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas on Monday, November 23, 2020, downplayed speculations that the killing of the former Jolo police chief was linked to the fatal shooting of four army intelligence officers at a police checkpoint in Jolo.
Sinas said he has ordered the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct an in-depth investigation into the killing of Police Lieutenant Colonel Walter Annayo.
“Ongoing pa po ang investigation ng PRO-Bar (Police Regional Office- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region). We have already requested CIDG to assist na mag-investigate doon. As of now ‘yung cadaver po ni Annayo ay inuwi na sa bahay nila,” said Sinas.
Annayo was gunned down by unidentified men on board a sports utility vehicle on Saturday, November 21, in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao.
Sinas said it is still too early to conclude that Annayo was killed because of the June 29 shooting incident at a police checkpoint in Jolo.
Four Army intelligence officers - Major Marvin Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula - died after the police allegedly mistook them for terrorists.
“The chief of police was not directly involved doon... kaya nga ang chief of police ay hindi kasama sa na-custody. He was relieved for command responsibility,” he added.
Annayo was the chief of the Jolo Police when this occurred. He was relieved from post and administrative charges were filed against him for command responsibility.
At the time of his death, he was assigned to the PRO in Bangsamoro.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed murder and planting of evidence charges against 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 before the Department of Justice.
They also recommended the filing of charges for neglect of duty against Annayo along with Sulu Police Provincial Office Director Michael Bawayan and Sulu Provincial Drugs Enforcement Unit chief Captain Ariel Corcino. (SunStar Philippines)