Cascolan vows fatal Jolo shooting incident won't happen again during his term

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Wednesday vowed that the fatal Jolo, Sulu shooting incident, which claimed the lives of four soldiers, would not happen during his leadership. 

"Well, for as long as I am chief of the Philippine National Police... we assure you that nothing will happen. We will assure the community and the public that AFP and PNP is strong in its partnership and it will be a brotherhood that we have to keep," Cascolan said at a joint press briefing of the police and military. 

On June 29, the intelligence officers were tracking suicide bombers when they were flagged down by cops in Barangay Walled City despite identifying themselves as members of the military. 

The soldiers were instructed to go to the police station for further verification of their identities. A police spot report stated that a shooting incident happened when the soldiers allegedly escaped and pointed their weapons at the police officers.

Armed Forces chief General Gilbert Gapay, who was the Philippine Army chief when the fatal shooting happened, branded the incident as murder. He also claimed that the police report was fabricated and full of lies. 

The PNP Internal Affairs Service earlier bared that administrative and criminal complaints have already been filed against the cops involved in the incident. 

The nine policemen involved are under the restrictive custody of the PNP in Camp Crame.

Gapay said the police and military would have an "enhanced coordination" so that the incident would not happen again. 

"Bale ngayon, we are addressing these various internal security threats, joint na nating kino-confront ito. That's why napapaloob doon sa ating updated plan is to really enhance joint intelligence, joint operations then 'yung capabilities ng AFP and PNP are fused para mas malakas," Gapay said. —KG, GMA News