MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it is leaving it to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to determine whether or not there was “overkill” in the fatal shooting of four military intelligence personnel by Sulu police officers.
“Sa ngayon, hintayin na lang natin ang magiging kalalabasan ng investigation ng NBI,” PNP spokesperson Brid. Gen. Bernard Banac said in an interview with reporters when asked if he considers the shooting incident as an “overkill.”
(For now, let us just wait for the results of the investigation of the NBI.)
“Wala na po tayong maibibigay pa na anumang pahayag maliban doon sa nasibak na ang hepe ng Jolo Municipal police station bilang bahagi ng kanyang command responsibility,” he added, referring to the dismissal of the chief of the Jolo Municipal police, Lt. Col. Walter Annayo
(We cannot give anymore statement aside from the relief of the chief of the Jolo Municipal police station which is a part of his command responsibility.)
Both police and the military have different versions of the shooting incident.
The Philippine Army said the intelligence officers were tracking down Abu Sayyaf members when they were flagged down by police officers near a checkpoint. The Philippine Army added that the soldiers were still shot despite having properly identified themselves.
Meanwhile, the police claimed that they tried stopping the sports utility vehicle (SUV) carrying the intelligence personnel, and instructed them to go to the nearby police station to verify their identities.
But the SUV sped off and triggered a car chase, police said, adding that they only shot the soldiers as the soldiers tried to shoot.
Based on the preliminary findings of the NBI, one Army intelligence officer sustained eight gunshot wounds, while two others sustained three.
Meanwhile, Banac added that it was also up to the NBI to validate the viral video of the supposed incident.
“Sa ngayon, pinapaubaya na natin sa investigation ng National Bureau of Investigation ang pag-validate ng nasabing kumakalat na viral video at upang malaman natin kung ano ang source at ano nilalaman nito,” he said.
(For now, we will leave it up to the NBI to validate the suppose viral video of the incident, as well as to determine its source.)
“So inaasahan natin na makakapagbigay ang NBI ng kanilang findings tungkol sa bagay na ito,” he added.
(So we are expecting that the NBI will give its findings regarding this video.)