PNP to form special task group to probe shooting of Sulu police chief

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will form a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to investigate the shooting of the Sulu provincial office chief, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ronaldo Olay said Saturday.

“‘Yung SITG ay bubuuin kasama ng crime laboratory, Regional Investigation and Detection ng region ng [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region] at CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group],” Olay said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The SITG will be formed. It will be composed of the crime laboratory, Regional Investigation and Detection of the BAR and the CIDG.)

The PNP official said details on the incident have yet to be disclosed as they await further reports from the provincial police office.

“Hindi pa natin alam. Wala pang masyadong detalye ang report at inaantay ang mga susunod na report. Doon malalaman ang mga detalye bakit nagkagano'n,” he said.

(We don’t know the whole story yet because there are no additional details from the ground and we are still waiting for further reports. We will determine why it happened once there are details available.)

On Friday afternoon, Police Colonel Michael Bawayan Jr., chief of Sulu provincial police office, was shot dead at a quarantine control point in Jolo.

Initial investigation indicated that Bawayan was inspecting a quarantine control point in Barangay Asturias when the suspect, Police Senior Staff Sergeant Imran Jilah, shot him.

Jilah was also shot dead by the Sulu police chief’s security detail.

The motive of the crime is still being determined, police said.

To recall, Bayawan was among the police officers who had faced charges due to the Jolo misencounter last year that killed four Army intelligence officers.

Heartbreaking, isolated

Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) Regional Director Police Brigadier General Eden Ugale on Saturday said the incident was "isolated."

"The tragic loss of Sulu Police Provincial Director, Police Colonel Michael Bawayan Jr is undeniably heartbreaking to the entire police force of PRO BAR," he said.

"The PRO BAR considers this as an isolated incident. In no way will such incident affect the sworn duty of the PRO BAR personnel to serve and protect our people in the Bangsamoro Region," Ugale said.

He called on PRO BAR personnel "to take a pause and pray for the repose of the soul of Police Colonel Bawayan."

Ugale also vowed to provide full support to the family of Bawayan.

"His sacrifice while serving the community will not be forgotten and will be remembered as a devoted police officer," he added. —KG, GMA News