MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed Tuesday a murder complaint against six Jolo policemen and three members of the Sulu Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) for the death of four Army intelligence operatives on the trail of a suspected Abu Sayyaf suicide bomber.
Named in the case lodged at the Department of Justice (DOJ) are Police Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar Padjiri, Police Master Sgt. Hannie Baddiri, PSSg Iskandar Susulan, PSSg Erniskar Sappal, and Police Corporal Sulki Andaki Patrolman Moh Nur Pasani, and Sulu PDEU officers PSSg Almudzrin Hadjaruddin and Patrolmen Alkajal Mandangan and Rajiv Putalan.
They are currently under the custody of the PNP Headquarters Support Service in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“After a thorough perusal of the records of this case, we are convinced that the evidence presented amply demonstrates that the victims were killed and that it was the nine police officers who killed them,” the NBI said in its complaint.
The Intelligence officers killed were identified as Major Marvin Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco Jr., and Corporal Abdal Asula. They were dispatched by the Joint Intelligence Task Group and the Task Force Sulu after technical intelligence detected the possible location of two female suicide bombers and the maker of their suicide vests.
An investigation by the NBI showed that the police officers simultaneously attacked the Army Intelligence officers without “the opportunity to defend themselves.”
Contrary to the claims of the police that one of the victims has a gun, the NBI said witnesses said that Indammog did not carry a firearm when he alighted from their vehicle.
“It can be concluded that the rifle recovered near his left hand was indeed planted,” said the NBI.
Murder is a non-bailable offense under the Revised Penal Code.
Meanwhile, NBI filed a complaint against Sulu police chief, Col. Michael Bawayan, Jolo police chief, Maj.Walter Annayo, and Sulu provincial drug enforcement unit chief, Capt. Ariel Corcino for neglect of duty.
Last week, the nine policemen declined to submit a statement to the NBI.
NBI Deputy Director for Regional Operations Services Antonio Pagatpat said they respect their refusal to give a statement to NBI investigators saying it is part of their constitutional rights.
Pagatpat said the policemen told the NBI they will answer the allegations once a case is filed before the DOJ.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the ballistic report submitted by the NBI showed the slain Army officers mostly sustained gunshot wounds to the back.
The NBI did not conduct an autopsy on Asula as he was buried immediately in accordance with Islamic traditions that called for the dead to be buried within 24 hours after their death.
He also said the slugs and shells recovered in the crime scene matched the firearms of the policemen.