NBI files raps against cops accused of killing soldiers

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed criminal charges Tuesday in Manila against nine Sulu policemen and three high-ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) officers, who were allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of four soldiers in Jolo last June 29.

Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38, and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33, died just outside the Jolo Municipal Police Station after what police initially described as a “misencounter” with police forces in Sulu’s capital on June 29.

Kalinga folks earlier buried Indammog here in Tabuk crying justice for the slain intelligence officer and the three others.  

In a four-page memorandum, the NBI announced the result of their investigation, which led them to file four counts of murder and planting of evidence against the nine policemen.

“After a thorough perusal of the records of this case, we are convinced that the evidence presented amply demonstrates that the victims were killed and that it was the nine police officers who killed them,” stated the memo.

 The accused policemen are SMSg. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, MSg. Hanie Baddiri, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, SSg. Iskandar Susulan, SSg. Ernisar Sappal, SSg. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan and Pat. Rajiv Putalan.

The three PNP brass that were charged with neglect of duty were Sulu provincial police chief Col. Michael Bawayan, Jolo police chief Maj. Walter Annayao and Sulu Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit chief Cpt. Ariel Corcino.

When the nine policemen were brought to the NBI main office on July 15, they invoked their constitutional right to remain silent, compelling the investigation bureau to give its recommendations without the side of the accused.

In spite of already declaring themselves Army intelligence officers at a checkpoint, the slain soldiers were reportedly told by the nine roving policemen to verify their identities at the nearby police station.

The police report then claimed that past the station, the soldiers pointed at the mobile PNP personnel and attempted to escape, prompting the nine policemen to shoot them.

The Philippine Army has decried the case as a “rubout” while the PNP downplayed it as a “shooting incident.”

Army officers had vowed justice for the four slain soldiers saying videos, photos, witnesses belied police reports it was a shootout.

Reports said the four soldiers were in a gray sport utility vehicle when they were pulled over by policemen at a checkpoint.

They identified themselves as members of the military, but because they were in civilian clothes, they were reportedly asked to go to the police station for verification of their identities.

The Army said the four were conducting intelligence operations against suspected terrorist suicide bombers.

The police report said the soldiers drove away toward Barangay San Raymundo, prompting the police to chase the vehicle.

When the police caught up with the SUV, the four allegedly drew out guns. Police said a shootout ensued.

This, however, was denied by several eyewitnesses, according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, whose department has jurisdiction over the PNP.

Año, a former military chief of staff, said eyewitnesses had told authorities that it was a rubout and not a shootout as the soldiers were not carrying firearms.

The PNP had backpedaled and called the “misencounter” a simple shooting incident.

It said it is standing by the initial police report that the soldiers were brandishing their firearms, which supposedly led to the shooting.

Año said Annayo, was sacked from his post two days after the incident. 

Annayo was replaced by Lt. Col. Filmore Calib, former chief of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

The nine police officers accused in the shooting are under restrictive custody over the shooting. They have been relieved of their posts and disarmed.

Año disclosed that aside from the NBI, the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are probing the incident.

“I don’t want to preclude the investigation. We have to observe due process...  I have an interest to ensure that justice shall prevail because I know these people and I have been part of the Armed Forces,” Año said in a press briefing at Malacañang.

He added: “It is my duty also to make sure that justice is served not only because they are AFP people but (it’s for) the entire country, to the public. We will exact accountability and they will answer whatever comes out of the investigation and we will file appropriate charges (against) them after the investigation.”

President Duterte has ordered the NBI to fast-track its probe and has expressed “extreme” sadness over the incident.

On July 1, a closed-circuit television or CCTV footage of the soldiers lying dead on the ground circulated. The soldiers did not have any firearms as seen in the video.