Thursday, August 20, 2015

Elite PNP teams pulled out of Zambo after shootout with soldiers

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 20): Elite PNP teams pulled out of Zambo after shootout with soldiers

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez  has ordered the recall of elite police teams in Zamboanga City following the shootout with lawmen and Marine commandos on Tuesday.

The move was apparently to diffuse the tension as two policemen and a Marine commando were killed in the shootout in Barangay Labuan where intensified government presence was ordered to prevent kidnappings.

Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman, said the chief PNP has also ordered an investigation of the shootout and come up with measures to prevent the repeat of the incident.

“The PNP and  the AFP are in full control of the situation there. But there will be an investigation to determine who could be liable for that unfortunate incident,” said Mayor.

Military sources said the shootout started when Marine commandos, manning the checkpoint in Barangay Labuan, apprehended two policemen for carrying guns in civilian clothes.

They were eventually released after they identified themselves as policemen assigned to the Regional Public Safety Battalion.

But the two policemen were reportedly slighted by the incident, prompting them to get back at the Marines. This led to the shootout.

Mayor said the investigation will be a joint undertaking by both the police and the military.

Part of the investigation is to determine who fired first that eventually led to the shootout.

“The chief PNP assured the full cooperation of the PNP Police Regional Office 9 in the investigation,” said Mayor.

“Close coordination with the AFP was made to ensure the public that the PNP and the AFP Marines are in control of the situation and those responsible will be sanctioned,” he added.

Aside from kidnapping activities, police and military forces have been on alert in Zamboanga City to prevent the repeat of the failed Zamboanga City siege in 2013 when hundreds of disgruntled Moro rebels attacked the City to protest the peace deal between the government and  the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

http://www.mb.com.ph/elite-pnp-teams-pulled-out-of-zambo-after-shootout-with-soldiers/

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