‘If you lie, I can cite you in contempt,’ Dela Rosa tells cop in Sulu shooting
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa threatened to cite in contempt a police officer involved in the shooting of four military men after insisting that one of the Army officers killed was carrying a firearm.
Police Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar Padjiri told the Senate that Major Marvin Indammog was carrying a firearm when he alighted from his vehicle after the former asked for the latter’s identification card.
“It took time bago buksan ‘yung bintana [ng kotse], ‘yung pagkabukas, dala ‘yung baril…Nagkaputukan na,” Padjiri said.
But Dela Rosa pointed out that witnesses have stated that Indammog raised his hands in surrender and even lifted his shirt to show he was not carrying any firearm.
“Klaruhin ko sa’yo, pag nag-lie ka dito, you are liable. Pwede kita i-contempt,” the senator told Padjiri.
“Merong apat na witness, nakakita. Kitang-kita nila nag-surrender,” he added.
Police SMSg Abdelzhimar Padjiri, one of the nine policemen involved in the shooting to death of four Army soldiers on June 29, 2020, testifies before the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hybrid hearing Wednesday, August 19, 2020. (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)
But Padjiri maintained that Indammog really did carry a firearm with him.
When asked who fired the first shot, Padjiri said he could no longer recall.
“Gusto ko marining side ninyo, ‘wag kayong magtago ng katotohanan,” Dela Rosa then reminded the police officer.
Later in the hearing, senators asked Padjiri and Pat. Alkajal Mandangan anew if they stand by their statement that Indammog was carrying a firearm.
Both answered in the affirmative. They also maintained that they did not plant the rifle that was found in the crime scene near Indammog’s body.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was also a former chief of the Philippine National Police, questions the policemen who allegedly shot to death four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu last June 29, 2020. The Senate initiated an investigation on the incident Wednesday, August 19, 2020. (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier filed a murder complaint against the nine police officers involved in the Jolo, Sulu, shooting where Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco Jr., and Corporal Abdal Asula were killed.
The military intelligence officers 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.
