Initial report on Jolo ‘misencounter’ due in 10 days — Guevarra

The National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) initial report on the alleged misencounter between police officers and soldiers in Jolo, Sulu that left four soldiers dead is due in 10 days, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.

The NBI's Zamboanga regional office will look into the incident, Guevarra said, after the bureau was called in to step in to ensure impartiality in the investigation.

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin said he believes the investigation will start on Tuesday.

Four military men in civilian clothes were shot by police officers in Barangay Walled City on Monday in an incident that the Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted could have been prevented.

The military said the soldiers were conducting intelligence operations in tracking alleged suicide bombers when they were flagged down by police officers.

Police said the men introduced themselves as members of the Armed Forces and were then told to proceed to a police station for verification.

Police claimed the soldiers fled, prompting them to give chase. When the soldiers allegedly pointed their firearms at the police, police shot them in defense, according to an initial report.

The military on the other hand claimed that the soldiers did not escape and that there was no exchange of gunfire.

The soldiers killed have been identified as Major Marvin Indamog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Eric Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana was reported to have considered the incident as "overkill."

The police officers involved have been ordered disarmed and placed under the custody of the Sulu provincial police chief. — RSJ, GMA News