PNP Internal Affairs Service probing Jolo incident

The Philippine National Police - Internal Affairs Service is also investigating the Jolo incident in which four Army soldiers were killed last Monday, according to its director, Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo, on Wednesday.

"We acted already kasi nasa mandate ng IAS to conduct motu proprio investigation sa mga incident katulad niyan," Triambulo said in a text message, deeming the incident as "not ordinary."

He said the regional IAS at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) already has an initial report on the incident but he has yet to receive it.

"He said he will submit today pero wala pa ako na-receive na copy sa initial report," Triambulo said.

Earlier, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac bared that the IAS is monitoring the developments on the matter.

The military earlier said four soldiers, who were conducting intelligence operations, were tracking the location of reported suicide bombers under the group of Mundi Sawajaan in coordination with Joint-Task Force Sulu and the 11th Infantry Division in Jolo.

The troops were flagged down by cops and were asked to proceed to the Jolo Municipal Police Station to further verify that they are really part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Police claimed that the soldiers escaped, prompting them to chase the troops. They also said the soldiers pointed their firearms at them so they gunned down the military troops.

Those killed were identified as Major Marvin Indamog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Eric Velasco and Corporal Abdal Asula. Three of them were given military honors at Villamor Airbase on Tuesday afternoon.

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay said what happened was murder and not a misencounter because the troops never fired shots at the policemen.

Gapay has criticized the initial spot report released by the police, claiming that it was fabricated.

The National Bureau of Investigation was tapped to conduct an impartial probe on the unfortunate incident. Police have vowed to cooperate in the investigation. — RSJ, GMA News