Manhunt ongoing for dismissed cops involved in Jolo shooting —Sinas

Manhunt operation is ongoing for the dismissed policemen who were involved in the fatal shooting of four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu, last year, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Sinas said tracker teams from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Intelligence Group, and Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are already in Jolo to locate the former police officers.

"Hinihintay namin 'yung iba. Ang manhunt ay nandoon na sa Jolo. Accordingly, nandoon po sila sa Jolo lahat, nakauwi na. We are negotiating for some na 'yung gusto mag-surrender na nakipag-negotiate na i-assure 'yung safety nila," Sinas said.

"Ang sabi ko as long as they will surrender, walang problema. But the manhunt is ongoing," he added.

Sinas refused to provide details when asked how many of the nine individuals had expressed their intention to surrender to authorities.

On January 14, the Jolo, Sulu Regional Trial Court issued arrest warrants against the nine former policemen, following delays due to the lockdown in the province amid the threat of a new coronavirus variant.

The dismissed cops were formerly under the custody of PNP in Camp Crame but were turned over to their families and lawyers early this month.

They 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.

The four soldiers were on a mission of tracking suicide bombers when they were flagged down by the cops. Despite identifying themselves as members of the military, the policemen still instructed them to go to the police station for further verification of their identities.

A spot report from the Jolo police stated that the troops tried to escape, prompting the cops to fire shots at them. The police also claimed that the soldiers had pointed their guns toward the policemen.

The Philippine military, however, branded the incident as murder.

Armed Forces spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo has urged the dismissed police officers to surrender to authorities. —KBK, GMA News