Sinas denies BIFF targeting Datu Piang police chief

Published December 14, 2020 01:22 PM By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA News

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas does not believe that the armed men who attacked Datu Piang, Maguindanao on December 3 were targeting the town's police chief. 

"No, wala pong katotohanan 'yun," Sinas said during Monday's press conference when asked if the suspected members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya were targeting Police Captain Israel Bayaona. 

Sinas pointed out that a military detachment was also burned during the attack aside from the police vehicle. 

"Nakita niyo, na-save po 'yung simbahan kaya nga pinakita namin 'yung detachment ng Army ay nasunog. Katabi po doon 'yung mobile namin dahil doon iniwan ng pulis para hindi nga sana madamay noong pumasok sila sa simbahan," Sinas said. 

It was the military who made the claim that the armed men were targeting Bayaona. 

Sinas was also asked for reaction to the statement of Lieutenant Colonel Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Central, that only four members

of the 6th Infantry Battalion fought with the armed men because the police abandoned their car and went to a safe place. 

The PNP chief said he no longer wants to counter the military's claim as the town mayor even lauded the cops for protecting Datu Piang. 

"That's the statement of the Army, we will not anymore fight it over but what's good is that if that's their claim, there's a separate claim kasi sa amin... We're just happy that we received the good feedback from the municipal mayor and he himself praised the police in defending Datu Piang," Sinas said. 

Police Major General Marni Marcos, head of the Board of Inquiry that looked into the incident, said authorities were not able to get statements from residents in the area who could say the policemen really abandoned the area to save themselves. 

Marcos said criminal complaints have already been filed against more than 100 BIFF members due to the incident. 

No casualties were reported among security forces and civilians. 

Marcos said the BOI has found out that there was lack of appreciation in the gathered intelligence regarding the terror plans of the BIFF. —KG, GMA News

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