AFP welcomes dismissal of cops in killing of Army intel officers

Screenshot of CCTV footage in the aftermath of the Sulu incident.

 MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday welcomed the dismissal of nine police officers involved in the fatal shooting of four Army intelligence officers in Jolo, Sulu in June 2020, and expressed hope that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will institute necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. 

“While we are optimistic that appropriate penalties will be meted on the perpetrators, we hope that necessary measures will be instituted by the PNP to prevent the incident from happening again,” AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgar Arevalo said in a statement. 

Arevalo likewise said that while the military considers the dismissal a welcome development, it understands that the police officers’ separation from service is  an administrative penalty. 

“We are one with the families of our slain soldiers in their quest for the filing of criminal charges against the said members of Jolo police,” Arevalo said. 

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson (Photo from his Facebook account)

PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Friday approved the recommendation of the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to dismiss the following officers:

Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar Padjiri

Master Sergeant Hannie Baddiri

Staff Sergeant Iskandar Susulan

Staff Sergeant Erniskar Sappal

Corporal Sulki Andaki

Patrolman Moh Nur Pasani from the Jolo Municipal Police Station

Staff Sergeant Almudzrin Hadjaruddin

Patrolman Alkajal Mandangan

Patrolman Rajiv Putalan from the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of the Sulu police 

Their dismissal was in relation to the shooting of four military intelligence officers who were said to be tracking down Abu Sayyaf members back in June. 

The dismissal order, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said, may still be appealed before the National Police Commission.

Arevalo, meanwhile, added that the AFP will “monitor unceasingly the development in this case.” 

“We will ensure that justice is served for the hapless victims who were killed while in the actual performance of their solemn duty,” the AFP spokesman said.

gsg