Kalinga: Justice for army officers ‘killed’ by cops

NBI summons cops in shooting 

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Provincial constituents demanded justice for slain Maj. Marvin Indammog and three other intelligence officers of the Philippine Army even as the former was buried here at the Good Shepherd Cemetery at Mapaoay, Ipil.

Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38, and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33, were on an anti-terrorism mission when they were allegedly flagged down by the police officers and shot to death.

This, as police officers accused of killing Indammog and the three others in Jolo, Sulu on June 29 were summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation Wednesday in Manila.

Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie Baddiri, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, Pat. Moh Nur  Pasani,  Pats. Alkajal  Mandangan and Rajiv Putalan and S/Sgts. Iskandar Susulan, Ernisar Sappal and Almudzrin  Hadjaruddin were accompanied by police escorts.

In Tabuk, the Armed Forces of the Philippines accorded Indammog funeral honors with the traditional 21-gun salute.

Indammog, was commanding officer of the Army’s 9th Intelligence Service Unit when he was slain with the three other soldiers by the alleged policemen.

His remains were first brought to the St. William’s Cathedral for the funeral mass. His classmates in the Philippine Military Academy Mandala Class of 2006 and siblings took turn giving eulogies. 

Hundreds of well-wishers from various walks-of-life and sub Kalinga tribes attended the ceremony.

His relatives and co-Mangali tribe members wore printed white T-shirts demanding justice for his death and his companions.
Before he was finally laid to his grave,   his four year old daughter Marian Thalia while tapping the coffin said "Hi, Daddy", her last greetings to her father.  

His wife, Jennifer, was silently grieving during the burial. 

Indammog’s father Cerilo received the Philippine flag from an Army officer.

 His parents recalled Marvin as responsible, the eldest of a brood of six, all males.

Indammog’s mother Violeta described him as strict imposing discipline on his younger brothers.

His co-officers in the Army said he was effective and efficient in his work while his men said he was brave, courageous, and their defender.

In Manila, NBI deputy director for regional operations service Antonio Pagatpat said the police officers, accused in the killing did not file their affidavits.

“We are in the final stage of our investigation and they were subpoenaed as part of due process and to give them a chance to explain their side. During the proceedings, they manifested that they will no longer submit their countervailing statements or affidavits,” Pagatpat said.

The police officers told NBI probers that they would file their affidavits only when a complaint is filed before the prosecutor’s office.

The wives of the slain soldiers had earlier filed a murder complaint against the police officers before the NBI.

Pagatpat said the evaluation of the evidence could be finished this week to determine whether the police officers would be charged with murder.

Among the pieces of evidence are the autopsy and ballistic findings, which showed that the Army intelligence officers were shot from behind. The body of one of the fatalities bore eight gunshot wounds in the back.

The suspects claimed the soldiers engaged them in a shootout.

Pagatpat said the NBI is confident that it has an airtight case against the police officers.

“Because they did not submit their affidavits, we’re confident we have a case,” he said.

President Duterte said he hopes the “isolated incident” would not spark animosity between the police and military.