PNP sacks Jolo cops in slay of Army men

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas on Friday announced that he has approved the dismissal of the nine police officers involved in the June 29 shooting of four army personnel in Jolo, Sulu.

“[C]onfirmed na approved na ang dismissal in police service ang 9 involved in Jolo shooting incident,” Sinas said in a message sent to GMA News Online.

However, Sinas said that the officers will be turned over to their families 10 days after the dismissal was finalized should no warrant of arrest be served against them.

“We had informed the DOJ investigating body that after 10 days na ma-finalized ang dismissal nila at wala pa warrant of arrest nila from court ay turn-over namin ang siyam sa mga kamag-anak nila at wala na kami jurisdiction sa kanila,” he said.

According to the chief PNP, the agency has no legal basis to hold the officers as they are already holding civilian titles after being dismissed from service.

“Baka ma-arbitrary detention naman kami,” he said.

“Kaya nga nag-coordinate na kami sa DOJ investigating the criminal case to fast track the filing of criminal case and we will hold them to the maximum period allowable and hopefully me-warrrant of arrest na ma-issue againt them,” he added. -Joahna Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News