PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Monday that the policeman whose ID was recovered in a mosque once used by the Maute terror group as their quarters in Marawi City has converted to Islam before he went on absence without official leave (awol) in 2014.
"We would like to make that clear, he is no longer a policeman. 2014 pa lang 'yung nasabing pangalan na 'yun na drop from rolls. Na-awol s'ya noong 2014 pa lang and after that wala na tayong alam sa kanyang whereabouts," he said.
Dela Rosa said the PNP is still verifying the involvement of the policeman, whom he refused to name.
"Hindi pa talaga tayo makapagsabi na sya talaga 'yung nandun unless makuha natin sya sa crime scene, doon sa main battle area or kahit na 'yung kanyang dead body kung sya ay namatay," he said.
On Saturday, government troops recovered an ID of a policeman formerly assigned in Rizal province while clearing a mosque, which was used by the Maute as sniping position while the Marawi conflict is on-going.
Chief Inspector Wilson Santos said the owner of the ID was seen together with ex-cop Jessy Vincent Original alias Abu Aisha, who was arrested over his alleged involvement in the Davao City bombing last year.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa said several police personnel are now under investigation for their alleged collusion with the terror groups.
"Meron tayong tinutukan, meron tayong iniimbestigahan pero hanggang duda pa lang, pinagdududahan, kinonduct natin ng counter intelligence operations," said Dela Rosa. (SunStar Philippines)