6 cops face dismissal over killing of 4 soldiers in Jolo

MANILA. The remains of the four soldiers killed at a police checkpoint in Jolo, Sulu are brought home. (Philippine Army)
MANILA. The remains of the four soldiers killed at a police checkpoint in Jolo, Sulu are brought home. (Philippine Army)

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has recommended the dismissal of six policemen charged for the June 29, 2020 shooting incident that killed four army intelligence officers at a police checkpoint.

Three others who were also manning the checkpoint were recommended for suspension of 50 days.

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 were all found guilty of four counts of grave misconduct following the investigation conducted on the incident. All four were members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station Alert Team.

Staff Sergeant Almudzrin M. Hadjaruddin, Patrolmen Alkajal J. Mandangan, and Rajiv G. Putalan, who were assigned at the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of Sulu, were found guilty of less grave neglect of duty and recommended for suspension of 50 days.

The IAS also recommended the suspension for 40 days of relieved Sulu Police Provincial Office Director Michael Bawayan and Sulu Provincial Drugs Enforcement Unit chief Ariel Corcino over less grave neglect of duty.

Slain former Jolo Police chief Walter Annayo was also found guilty of less grave neglect of duty and included in the recommendation for 40 days suspension.

Annayo was gunned down by unidentified men in Maguindanao on November 21, 2020.

Triambulo said Annayo was aware of the said intelligence operation being conducted by the army personnel in the area against two suicide bombers because he was part of the planning of the Task Force Jolo.

“Hindi naman nya ito dineny sa affidavit at statement ni Colonel Bautista at inulit nya ito sa Senate hearing presided by Senator Bato na talagang andon s’ya at sinabihan s’ya so ngayon di nya ito ni-relay sa mga tauhan nya, kaya ang mga tauhan n’ya na threatened doon sa movement ng mga intelligence officer thinking na sila ‘yung tina-trabaho,” he said.

The shooting incident on June 29 killed Major Marvin Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula, who were on an official mission then against alleged suicide bombers in Jolo, Sulu.

Triambulo said “nagkaroon ng sagutan, nagkainitan na, nagkabuhol-buhol na ang traffic... nagkainitan ang grupo kasi sa tingin ng s’yam ay sila ang sinu-surveillance.”

(There was an altercation between the police and the four military intelligence officers. The nine policemen thought they were under surveillance.)

Triambulo said they have already forwarded the recommendation to the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management for the approval of PNP Chief Debold Sinas.

If Sinas approves their recommendation, the police officers may file an appeal before the National Police Commission.

The National Bureau of Investigation also filed murder and planting of evidence charges against the nine policemen before the Department of Justice.

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.

The incident prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to visit the troops in Zamboanga and, later, in Jolo to pacify them and prevent any hostilities from breaking out between the police and military. (SunStar Philippines)

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