Arevalo says soldiers did not escape police, no exchange of gunfire between security forces

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo on Tuesday said there was no exchange of gunfire that transpired between police officers and soldiers in Jolo, Sulu.

In a television interview, Arevalo narrated what happened on Monday afternoon at Sitio Marina that led to the killing of four military troops. His narration was based on the information provided by Joint Task Force Sulu chief Major General Corleto Vinluan.

The AFP spokesman pointed out that based on photos, it could be seen that no firefight had taken place as some of the soldiers, who were in civilian clothes, were still positioned near their vehicle.

"We could look at the spot reports submitted by the Philippine National Police and if it were to be taken as to what its contents say, ang sabi doon, nag-attempt na mag-angat, mag-level ng baril patungo sa mga PNP allegedly... 'yun diumano ang dahilan upang paputukan ng miyembro ng PNP itong ating mga sundalo," Arevalo told CNN-Philippines.

"Kung 'yun ang ating titingnan, malinaw na walang naganap na barilan, hindi nagkaroon ng exchange of fire... at kung makikita natin ang mga larawan, makikita natin 'yung mga sundalo ay nandoon malapit sa sasakyan at 'yung isa nandoon pa sa loob," he added.

Arevalo further said the soldiers did not attempt to escape from the police officers, which is in contrast with the initial information disclosed by the police, which, according to them, prompted them to chase the troops.

The military spokesman said the soldiers just moved past the police station.

"Lumampas ang sasakyan ng mga sundalo doon sa headquarters ng Philippine National Police, almost sa tapat na po ng headquarters ng Bureau of Fire Protection. Hindi naman po ito tumalilis o tumakas kagaya ng naunang report bagamat bahagya po siyang lumagpas dito sa headquarters ng Philippine National Police," he explained.

According to Arevalo, he does not know yet why the soldiers went past by the police station. However, he said he sees nothing wrong with it.

"I would surmise wala naman silang masamang intensyon dito [and] they moved a little further than the exact spot o harap ng istasyon ng Philippine National Police," Arevalo said.

According to a police report, security forces from the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS) and Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit were on patrol in Barangay Busbos when they spotted four armed men on board a gray SUV at Sitio Marina, Barangay Walled at 2:40 p.m. of Monday.

Police officers confronted the armed men, who had identified themselves as AFP personnel. The cops then directed them to proceed to Jolo MPS for further verification of their identities.

However, upon arriving at the said police station, the policemen claimed that the AFP troops fled toward Martirez, Barangay San Raymundo.

Cops then chased them, prompting soldiers to disembark from their vehicle and pointed their firearms at the cops. Due to this, the cops fired shots at the soldiers, resulting in their deaths.

The soldiers killed have been identified as Major Marvin Indamog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Eric Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula.

No casualty was recorded on the side of the police.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana deemed the incident as an "overkill." He earlier requested the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an impartial investigation on the matter.

The Philippine National Police condoled with the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers and vowed that it would cooperate in the investigation of the incident. — RSJ, GMA News