‘SANA WALA NA LANG PNP’

Widow of fallen Sulu soldier dismayed with cops

The widow of a soldier who was slain by police officers in Jolo, Sulu expressed her dismay and anger with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday.

In Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras Weekend," the wife of Sergeant Jaime Velasco, one of the four Sulu shooting victims, said she was furious with the PNP.

"Galit ako kung sa galit. Sobra sa dulo ng galit ko," Mafi Velasco said.

"Alam mo 'yung feeling mo sana wala na lang PNP? Ano bang klaseng, alam mo 'yun, moral o kaisipian meron na binubuo sa inyo habang tine-training kayo para patayin niyo 'yung kapwa niyo, kapawa nasa serbisyo niyo," Mafi added.

Velasco's sister also expressed her ill-will towards the PNP, claiming that there was no such thing as a good cop in Jolo.

"Kahit pumunta kayo ng Jolo, wala talang maayos na mga pulis dun. Halos lahat ng mga siraulong pulis dito, doon talaga dinadala," she said.

Because of the killings, President Rodrigo Duterte appealed to both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP to “settle down” as the matter was being investigated.

"Nandito ako para manghingi ng tulong sa inyo. Help me make the waters calm kasi ang ating bayan, ship of state, is sailing in that area," Duterte said amid tensions between the security forces.

"Kung gusto niyong gumanti, kung gusto niyong mag-resbak, then go ahead; I will not stop you. But also, at the end of the day, just give me one answer. Will the country benefit from furthering the violence?" he added.

Both the AFP and the PNP have said they would accept the results of the National Bureau of Investigation's findings on the killings.

Four soldiers who were on an intelligence mission were killed in an alleged misencounter with policemen in Barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu on Monday, June 29, according to a report from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the police.

The four soldiers were riding an SUV when they were spotted by police.

When confronted by the PNP team, the men introduced themselves as members of the AFP. They were then directed to proceed to Jolo Municipal Police Station for verification.

However, the men allegedly fled, prompting the police to chase them.

The police said the men disembarked from their vehicle with firearms. The men allegedly pointed their firearms towards police. However, before they could pull the trigger, the police officers were able to shoot them in defense, the report said.

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay said the incident was not a misencounter but murder. 

Gapay pointed out that if there was indeed a firefight, it is impossible that there is no casualty on the side of the policemen. —Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM/KG, GMA News