According to the initial results of an autopsy conducted by NBI, one of the soldiers suffered eight gunshot wounds, while the others had at least three each.
READ: Jolo encounter shows ‘excessive’ use of force by PNP vs slain soldiers
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 21) — Evidence shows that nine policemen killed four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu in late June, the National Bureau of Investigation said in a complaint filed with the Justice Department on Tuesday.
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario and Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
The NBI lodged a complaint for murder and planting of evidence against the police officers.
“After a thorough perusal of the records of this case, we are convinced that the evidence presented amply demonstrates that the victims were killed and that it was the nine police officers who killed them,” the NBI said.
The respondents are Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar Padjiri, Master Sergeant Hannie Badiri, Staff Sergeants Iskandar Susulan and Ernisar Sappal, Corporal Sulki Andaki, and Patrolman Mohammad Nur Pasani, all from the Jolo municipal police, as well as Police Staff Sergeant Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Patrolmen Alkajal Mandangan and Rajiv Putalan from the Sulu provincial drug enforcement unit.
Although not all of them fired their government-issued firearms, the others assisted the police officers who shot at the soldiers, the NBI said.
“The nine police officers simultaneously attacked the victims who were not given the opportunity to defend themselves,” the NBI added.
Citing eyewitness accounts supported by evidence, one of the victims, Major Marvin Indammog did not carry any firearm when he alighted from the vehicle, leading the NBI to conclude that the rifle recovered in his left hand “was indeed planted.”
Also facing a case for neglect of duty are Sulu provincial police director Colonel Michael Bayawan, Jolo Municipal Police chief Major Walter Annayo, and provincial drug enforcement unit head Captain Ariel Corcino.
They failed to inform their subordinates of the June 29 military operation which was being conducted against two female suicide bombers and the maker of their vests, the NBI said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has appealed to both the military and police to remain calm amid the ongoing investigation.
Aside from Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco, and Corporal Abdal Asula, all from the 9th Intelligence Service Unit of the 11th Infantry Division, were killed.
The cops earlier claimed self-defense.
The Philippine National Police agreed that the soldiers did not fire a single shot at the police. They have since ruled out the misencounter angle and called it a shooting incident.
