Palace to Gapay: Let DOJ probe on killings of soldiers in Jolo take its course

Malacañang on Thursday assured the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that justice would prevail after military chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay lamented that cases against policemen tagged in the killings of four soldiers in Jolo last June have yet to reach the court.

Gapay, in a Senate inquiry on Wednesday on the June 29 shooting incident, called for the immediate filing of cases against the policemen because “justice delayed is justice denied.”

But presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of Justice has a maximum of 90 days to decide whether to file charges in court in connection with the complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in July.

These include allegations of murder and planting of evidence against the nine cops linked to the shooting as well as neglect of duty on the part of three local police officials.

“Dumaan po ito sa regular preliminary investigation. Hindi po ito dumaan sa inquest kasi wala naman po ang mga iyong mga piskal o police investigators nung pangyayaring iyon at iyan naman po ay statutory right ng mga akusado,” Roque, a former trial lawyer, said in a televised briefing.

“No less than the President na po ang nangako ng katarungan. At ngayong natapos na po ang imbestigasyon ng NBI at naisampa na ang kaso sa piskalya, hayaan lang po natin ang proseso umusad.”

Roque, however, did not respond to the question on Gapay’s accusation of a cover-up with regard to the incident.

The Philippine National Police, meanwhile, echoed Roque’s remarks, saying it was letting due process take its course.

"The NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) has already conducted a proper investigation and filed murder raps before the DOJ against nine accused cops," PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a statement.

Banac said the police force would continue to cooperate in the investigation.

The military said the soldiers were conducting intelligence operations to track alleged suicide bombers when they were flagged down by the policemen.

The men had identified themselves as military personnel but were told to go to a nearby police station for further verification, police said.

Upon arriving at the station, the police report said, the soldiers allegedly 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 them. — with Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News