By Martin Sadongdong and Aaron Recuenco
Police killed on Monday what they described as four armed men, who turned out to be military officers on an official mission in Jolo, Sulu.
As it turned out, the armed men were members of an Army intelligence unit under covert operations reportedly to locate suicide bombers affiliated with Abu Sayyaf Group bomb maker Mundi Sawadjaan, the nephew of ASG sub-leader Hajan Sawadjaan.
The fatalities – all Army troopers from the 11th Infantry Division – have the ranks of major, captain, sergeant, and corporal, said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom).
Based on the police report reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City, the incident started when policemen from the Jolo Municipal Police Station and anti-narcotics agents from the Sulu Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit spotted a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in Barangay Bus-Bus at 2:40 p.m. Monday.
“When accosted and confronted by the PNP Team, they introduced themselves as members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” the report stated.
Despite identifying themselves as soldiers, they were still told to proceed to the police station for verification.
Upon arriving at the police station, the soldiers reportedly sped off with their vehicle which triggered a car chase.
“When the PNP personnel chased them, the said persons disembarked from their vehicle with their firearms. Subsequently, the said persons lifted and pointed their firearms toward the PNP personnel. However, before they could pull the trigger, the PNP personnel were able to shoot them in defense, thus an exchange of gunfire ensued which resulted in the death of the four armed men,” the report read.
But Sobejana would not buy the story of the local police, saying they also received reports contrary to what the cops claimed.
"Accordingly, they (soldiers) were performing official functions and apparently they were mistaken as lawless elements,” Sobejana said.
“There are several versions so very sketchy as of now. So I requested the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to conduct an investigation and uphold impartiality, reveal the truth and give justice to the slain soldiers,” said Sobejana.
He said the NBI has already agreed to investigate and its agents are expected to arrive in Jolo Tuesday morning. The NBI, he said, should investigate why the shootout erupted between the police and the military.
“Kung ano man ang dahilan bakit binaril ng pulis, iyon ang pinaiimbestigahan ko pa. Ang sigurado lang, itong apat na sundalo ay ginagawa nila 'yung kanilang trabaho as reported by the 11th Infantry Division (As to why the cops shot them, that's the subject of an investigation I already ordered. What I'm sure of is the four soldiers were on a mission as reported by the 11th Infantry Division),” Sobejana said.
“No less than the Armed Forces Chief and PNP Chief are aware na maraming versions, mahirap i-elaborate side ng AFP at PNP so third party ang mag-probe (No less than AFP Chief General Felimon Santos Jr. and PNP Chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa are aware that there were many versions of the incident, it's difficult to elaborate the side of the AFP and PNP so a third party will conduct the probe),” he added.Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the incident was “very unfortunate” for the security sector.
“Very unfortunate incident. No additional comment while inquiry is ongoing. Very hazy pa dumadating na report (The reports coming in are still very hazy),” Lorenzana said.