Army: Men on viral CCTV footage of Jolo incident were responding soldiers

The Philippine Army on Thursday clarified that the men seen in a viral video of the Jolo, Sulu shooting incident were actually soldiers.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Army spokesman Colonel Ramon Zagala said the soldiers responded to the area as they obtained reports that a shooting incident had transpired.

Zagala said when the soldiers arrived, no police officers were in the area. He added that the military men wanted to identify if the fatalities were their comrades and to know who were the perpetrators of the crime.

"Ika-clarify lang po namin 'yung recent video na umiikot, ito nakita namin kaninang umaga. At first glance namin ay inakala namin mga PNP pero vinerify namin and on verification kaning umaga, ito'y mga sundalo na nagrerespond noong shooting..." Zagala said.

"Noong pumunta sila doon gusto nila ascertain 'yung identities kung ito ba ay mga kasama natin kasi noong dumating sila, walang PNP," Zagala said.

Zagala mentioned that one man, seen in the video opening the vehicle's door, was actually the brother of one of the slain soldier, Corporal Abdal Asula.

"At that time kasi hindi nila alam kung sino pumatay, akala nila Abu Sayyaf tapos ang nangyari 'yung nakikita niyong nagbubukas ng pinto, 'yun ay brother ni Corporal Asula, isa rin naming operative..." Zagala said.

"Nilagyan niya ng folded na tshirt 'yung ulo ng brother niya para wala 'yung, para masecure 'yung ulo ng brother niya kasi nasa sahig lang," he added.

Aside from checking the identities, the troops who responded also secured the equipment of the fallen soldiers.

No intent to tamper

Zagala admitted that there were lapses on the part of the soldiers who responded in the shooting incident, however, he said there was no intention to tamper the crime scene.

"Admittedly may kaunting lapses tayo kasi binuksan 'yung mga pinto," Zagala said. "Ang intent lang talaga doon is to ascertain identities, check kung may buhay kasi kararating lang nila. Walang intent to tamper."

Earlier reports said the National Bureau of Investigation is already probing the circulating CCTV footage. In the said video, a man wearing a cap was seen reaching something from one of his companions and then moving the body of one of the slain soldiers on the ground.

The man was also seen opening the SUV of the slain soldiers and moving one of the bodies on the ground again.

The Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service has started its motu proprio investigation on the incident.

Nine police officers have been relieved and disarmed following the incident. Police Lieutenant Colonel Walter Annayo, chief of the Jolo Municipal Police Station, has also been removed from his post.

They are under the custody of the Sulu Provincial Police Office. — RSJ, GMA News