MANILA, Philippines — The chief of Jolo Municipal police in Sulu was relieved from his post after four military intelligence personnel were shot dead on June 29, Monday, the regional director of Bangsamoro Administrative Region police said Wednesday.
“Totoo ‘yun. Administratively relieved siya pending results of investigation,” Brig. Gen. Manuel Abu, chief of Police Regional Office in Bangsamoro Administrative Region said in a phone interview when asked about the relief of Jolo police chief Lt. Col. Walter Annayo.
Abu said the Sulu town police chief was removed from the post so that he will not “influence the investigation being conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.
Annayo was replaced by Police Lt. Col. Filmore Calib, former Officer-in-Charge of Force Commander of PRO-BAR Regional Mobile Force Battalion.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay on Tuesday requested the relief of Sulu provincial police commanders for command responsibility as nine policemen were involved in the killing of the four military men.
The nine police officers were already relieved and disarmed, according to PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac.
The National Bureau of Investigation was tasked to conduct an impartial probe into the Jolo incident.
READ: ‘Saddened’ Duterte orders NBI to hasten probe on Sulu incident
KGA
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