Duterte appealed to soldiers, police for calm over Jolo incident –Roque

President Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to “settle down” as investigation is underway over the recent incident in Jolo, Sulu between the police and military, which left four soldiers dead.

This was relayed by Duterte’s spokesman Secretary Harry Roque in a video message sent to reporters on Saturday.

“Sabi po ng Presidente: he is appealing to both the PNP and the AFP na huminahon. Ang kaniyang plea po ay bigyan ng pagkakataon na magimbestiga ang NBI,” Roque said quoting the President.

Duterte earlier ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a speedy investigation on the incident that the head of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, described as "murder."

According to the police spot report on the incident, the policemen confronted the armed men they spotted in Sitio Marina. These men had identified themselves as military personnel  and the police directed them to proceed to a nearby station for further verification of their identities.

Upon arriving at the station, the report said, the soldiers tried to escape, prompting the policemen to chase them. The soldiers allegedly disembarked from their vehicle and pointed their weapons at their pursuers.

Police then fired shots at the soldiers, killing all four of them.

Roque said Duterte met separately with the chiefs of AFP and PNP on Friday night.

“Iisa lang po ang naging mensahe ng ating Presidente: Sisiguraduhin niya na magkakaroon po ng katarungan, makukulong po at mapaparusahan ang lahat ng mga nagkasala tungkol po dito sa apat na miyembro ng hukbong sandatahan kasama na po ang isang Major na napatay po sa Jolo, Sulu,” he said.

“‘I give you my word as President na matapos na ang imbestigasyon, merong probable cause, may malilitis at mapaparusahan ang nagkasala,'” Roque added, quoting Duterte.

Meanwhile, AFP spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo on Saturday said those who will be found liable in the incident must be given what is due them.

"Kung mayroon nagkasala ay dapat mabigyan ng karampatang parusa," he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson lauded Duterte for visiting soldiers and policemen in Mindanao and personally assuring them that justice will be served.

"Maganda, kasi he took time to even fly to Zamboanga para kausapin ang police officials and Army officials na magkalma kayo kasi walang makikinabang dito kundi mga terrorists, ang mga kalaban ng Pilipino, kababayan natin enemies of the state. Kaya mabuti ang move na talagang pumunta siya roon," he said in a radio interview. —LBG/KG/MDM, GMA News