3 AWOL cops in Atimonan ‘rubout’ urged to surrender; tracker teams formed

A member of the National Bureau of Investigation forensic team examines marks left by a hail of bullets that hit this SUV and another vehicle, and killed all 13 onboard, including police officers and soldiers. Most of the bullets were believed to have been fired by a police-military team stationed at a checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines – Three police officers linked to an alleged rubout in Atimonan, Quezon and who have since gone on AWOL (Absence Without Leave) must return to the folds of the law, an official said Friday.

“May I encourage Balauag, Indal, and Jailani to come into the folds of the law,” Police Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman, said, referring to Police Superintendent Ramon Balauag, Police Officers 2 Nelson Indal, and Al Bhazar Jailani who went on AWOL while under restrictive custody inside the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Mayor made the appeal as the Philippine National Police are set to form tracker teams to look for the three police officers who, along with 10 others, are facing arrest for the killing of 13 people at a joint police-military checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon on January 6.

The Gumaca regional trial court has issued arrest warrants for multiple murder charges against the 13 police officers.

Mayor said Balauag has been missing since July 8, Indal since August 16, and Jailani since August 8.

He said once charged the three would be removed from the service, and all their retirement benefits forfeited.

RELATED STORIES:

Arrest warrants out for 13 cops in Atimonan ‘rubout’

13 cops in Atimonan slays indicted