PNP probes 3 cops following killing of colleague in Maguindanao del Norte

Maguindanao del Norte. INQUIRER FILES

CAMP SK PENDATUN, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines — Three police officers are now under investigation by the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) of the Philippine National Police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following the death of a colleague in a shootout in Parang town of Maguindanao del Norte province on May 2.

Police Capt. Airene Mazon, public information officer of the BARMM police, told the Inquirer that the three police personnel were with Capt. Roland Moralde in the Parang public market but allegedly had not done anything to aid him against the attackers.

Mazon said those being investigated have the ranks of lieutenant colonel, captain and patrolman and all belonged to the Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Canine Unit.

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Earlier, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that there were four policemen who accompanied Moralde in the public market. But only three figured in the latest probe of the RIAS.

“These policemen will definitely face both criminal and administrative cases, depending on the result of the investigation,” Mazon said.

While at the public market, Moralde tried to arrest a person who had a gun tucked in his waist but it turned bloody after the man, later identified as Mohiden Untal, resisted and engaged Moralde in a shootout.

After the short gunfight that resulted in Untal’s death, Moralde was chased and eventually cornered by five of Untal’s relatives.

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2 cops as suspects

Moralde, who belonged to the Regional Mobile Force Company, died from several bullet wounds from high-powered guns, a police report said.

In a pursuit operation on that same day, two police officers suspected to have taken part in shooting Moralde surrendered to authorities.

Maj. Christopher Cabugwang, Parang police chief, said the two suspects, whose identity were not yet revealed, are charged for murder, along with three other at-large gunmen.

The arrested police officers, who are assigned in local police stations in Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur provinces, will also be slapped with administrative complaints, Cabugwang added.

“This is very unfortunate because the suspects in the killing of Capt. Roland Moralde are also his comrades,” Cabugwang said.

Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, the BARMM police director, said the prevalence of violence against policemen “is deeply concerning as it demonstrates a disregard for the principles of law and order.”

“These acts of disrespect towards authorities should not be tolerated, as they undermine the safety of our policemen and pose a threat to maintaining peace, order and the safety of the community,” Tanggawohn added.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil had directed the BARMM police leadership to thoroughly investigate the incident to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and urged those who have relevant information about the incident and the suspects to come forward and cooperate with the authorities. INQ