PNP chief orders probe on Zamboanga clash of cops, marines

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez. SCREENGRAB FROM RTV MALACAñANG’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez has ordered the Zamboanga Police to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in probing the deadly gun battle between policemen and soldiers in Zamboanga City last Tuesday.

Zamboanga Police director Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio also ordered the pull out of its regional public safety battalion “to prevent further any untoward incident to happen.”

According to PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, the PNP chief assured that those responsible will be sanctioned.

“He also assured the full cooperation of the Zamboanga police regional office in the investigation. A close coordination with the AFP will be made to ensure the public that the PNP and Marines are in control of the situation,” Mayor said.

On Tuesday night, two policemen and a Marine were killed in a clash at a market between the personnel of Regional Public Safety Batallion (RPSB) 9 and Marine Batallion Landing Team 9 in Barangay (village) Labuan.

READ: 2 cops, Marine killed in Zamboanga City shootout

Those killed in the RPSB were PO1 Muhsin Jainul and PO3 Alkashmir Lipae, and Marine Corporal Jason Marqueses of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 9.

The clash erupted when Marqueses accosted Jainul and Lipae at a checkpoint for not wearing their proper police uniform. Julliane Love de Jesus/JE