AFP spokesperson Marine Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo (File photo)
MANILA – While appreciating the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) filing administrative charges against its erring personnel involved in the shooting of four military intelligence operatives in Jolo, Sulu on June 29, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it is one with the families in their pursuit of justice against the erring members of the Jolo police.
"We in the AFP will not stop until justice is served with dispatch for the victims of that unfortunate incident," AFP spokesperson, Marine Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in a press statement on Monday.
Killed in the June 29 incident were Major Marvin Indammog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco, and Cpl. Abdal Asula – all personnel of the Philippine Army.
The four were conducting intelligence and monitoring operations against two suspected suicide bombers when gunned down by the police officers.
Earlier, PNP chief Gen. Camilo Cascolan said nine police officers were slapped with administrative charges.
Charged were Senior Master Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri; Master Sgt. Hanie Baddiri; Staff Sgt. Iskandar Susulan; Staff Sgt. Ernisar Sappal; Cpl. Sulki Andaki; Patrolman Moh Nur Pasani; Staff Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin; Patrolman Alkajal Mandangan; and Patrolman Rajiv Putalan.
All are under restrictive custody in PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Meanwhile, based on the finding of the PNP- Internal Affairs Service (IAS), the three senior officials -- Lt. Col. Michael Bayawan Jr., the Sulu police chief; Major Walter Annayo, the Jolo police chief; and Capt. Ariel Corsino, head of the Sulu drug enforcement unit, are also facing administrative charges since they are also liable under the doctrine of command responsibility.
"The Armed Forces of the Philippines takes due notice and appreciates the filing of administrative charges by the PNP against 12 of its erring personnel for their respective acts or omission in the shooting incident that claimed the lives of four AFP intelligence personnel—two of them officers," Arevalo said.
Arevalo said justice should neither be delayed nor denied to soldiers who were killed while in the actual performance of duty which is to protect the people and secure the country from terrorists. (PNA)
