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PNP chief Gamboa says he still has confidence in Jolo police force
By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA NewsThe chief of the Philippine National Police still expressed confidence in his men in Jolo, Sulu despite the call of Senator Risa Hontiveros to relieve the entire police force in the area after the June 29 shooting incident leaving four soldiers dead, and the latest deadly explosions in the town.
"Unless there is sufficient evidence establishing criminal involvement or administrative lapses leading to the attack, the PNP maintains full confidence in our ground personnel," Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said in a press statement.
Hontiveros said relieving the entire Jolo police
force would allow an unhampered investigation into the unfortunate incidents."Hinihingi ko po sa pamunuan ng PNP: Relieve the entire Jolo police force. Para matanggal ang agam-agam na may infiltration ng terrorista, para mapanatag ang loob ng mga Pilipino, para bigyan ng free hand ang imbestigasyon," Hontiveros said.
"Kung ang tanong lang pagkatapos ng June 29 ay 'ano ang tinatago ng kapulisan at bakit parang may coverup?' ngayon, pagkatapos ng pagbomba sa Jolo, ang tanong na ay 'mayroon bang military intelligence na napunta na sa kamay ng kalaban?'" she added.
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In the shooting incident, four intelligence officers of the military were tracking suicide bombers when they were killed by cops.
The military had said those two suicide bombers were the ones who had caused the explosions in Barangay Walled City, which killed 15 people and wounded 70 others.
They were later identified as one Nanah, the alleged wife of Filipino suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, and a certain Inda Nhay, the supposed wife of ISIS liaison to Abu Sayyaf Group Abu Talha, who was killed during a firefight with troops.
Hontiveros noted that the recent developments in Jolo showed the importance of putting the nine cops involved in the shooting incident under preventive suspension.
Otherwise, national security could be compromised, Hontiveros pointed out. —LBG, GMA News