AFP calls on dismissed cops in Jolo shooting incident to surrender

Published January 15, 2021 02:50 PM By ANNA FELICIA BAJO,GMA News

The Armed Forces of the Philippines urged the dismissed police officers involved in the fatal Jolo shooting incident last year that left four  Army officers dead, to surrender after warrants for their arrest have been issued.

"We urge the respondent police personnel to surrender—else the AFP, the Philippine National Police, and other government agencies  will vigorously search, find, and deliver them to court without delay to face trial for multiple murder," AFP spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo said in a press statement Friday.

On Thursday , the Jolo, Sulu Regional Trial Court issued the arrest warrants

against the nine former policemen, following delays due to the lockdown in the province amid the threat of a new coronavirus variant.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas earlier said the accused cops, who were formerly under police custody, have been turned over to their families and lawyers last week.

Meanwhile, the Philippine military is glad that the court found probable cause to issue warrants of arrest against the dismissed policemen, the AFP spokesman said.

"The arrest and subsequent detention of the suspects will be without bail indicating that the court considers that the evidence of their guilt is strong," Arevalo said.

The dismissed cops were involved in the shooting incident that killed Philippine Army intelligence officers Major Marvin Indamog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Eric Velasco, and Corporal Abdal Asula on June 29, 2020.

Earlier investigation reports showed that the soldiers were tracking suicide bombers when they were flagged down by the police. They identified themselves as members of the military but they were still directed to go to the police station for further verification.

According to a police report, the troops tried to escape, prompting the cops to fire shots at them. The police also claimed that the soldiers had pointed their guns towards the policemen.

Armed Forces chief General Gilbert Gapay, then commander of the Philippine Army, said the incident was clearly a murder case. He also criticized the police's spot report, saying it was full of lies and inconsistencies.

A Senate inquiry was launched to look into the incident.

PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said Sinas had directed his men to keep track of the former cops upon their release from PNP custody. —LBG, GMA News

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