PNP seeks Army’s help to track down 9 dismissed Jolo cops

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 22, 2021): PNP seeks Army’s help to track down 9 dismissed Jolo cops (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

ARMY ASSISTANCE. Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Debold Sinas holds a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday (Feb. 22, 2021). Sinas said the PNP sought the assistance of the Philippine Army in tracking down nine former police officers implicated in the fatal shooting of four Army intelligence operatives in Jolo last year. (PNA photo by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, on Monday said they already sought the assistance of the Philippine Army (PA) in tracking down the nine former police officers implicated in the fatal shooting of four Army intelligence troopers in June last year.

"Our dialogue is still ongoing and some of them are still hesitant to surrender but we already gave copies of the arrest warrant to the PA to help us in tracking them," Sinas said in a media interview.

Sinas said the dismissed Jolo cops are wary of surrendering due to fears about their security and safety despite earlier assurances that they will be detained in PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

"But they still refused to surrender so our manhunt goes on," Sinas said.

Aside from the PA, he said they also gave copies of the arrest warrants to the National Bureau of Investigation.

Reports said the nine former policemen are still in Jolo, Sulu.

Last month, a panel of prosecutors of the Department of Justice found probable cause to indict the nine police officers -- Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri; M/Sgt. Hanie Baddiri; S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan; S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal; Cpl. Sulki Andaki; Pat. Moh Nur Pasani; S/Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin; Pat. Alkajal Mandangan; and Pat. Rajiv Putalan for four counts of murder and planting of evidence.

The panel did not recommend bail for the accused.

Sinas earlier approved the dismissal from service of the police officers.

Killed in the June 29, 2020 incident were Maj. Marvin A. Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin B. Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime M. Velasco, 38, and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33.

The four soldiers were conducting intelligence and monitoring operations against two suspected suicide bombers when gunned down by the nine Jolo police officers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131456