DOJ sets murder raps vs cops in Jolo slay

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to charge nine police officers with four counts of murder and planting of evidence for the death of four Army intelligence officers in Jolo, Sulu in June 2020.

State prosecutors noted the victims were killed treacherously.

“The victims were unarmed, unsuspecting and were not in a position to defend themselves when they were shot,” Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento of the DOJ-National Prosecution Service (NPS) said, citing reports submitted by the panel of prosecutors who investigated the case.

The accused officers – Senior M/Sgt Abdelzhimar Padjiri; M/Sgt. Hanie Baddiri; S/Sgts. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Ernisar Sappal and Iskandar Susulan; Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Patrolmen Alkajal Mandangan, Moh Nur Pasani and Rajiv Putalan – were assigned at the Jolo municipal police and provincial drug enforcement unit of the Sulu police at the time of the incident.

Maj. Marvin Indammog, Cpt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco Jr. and Cpl. Abdal Asula were trying to thwart a terrorist attack when they were killed in what was initially reported as a misencounter.

Examination conducted on the cadavers showed the victims were shot in the back.

The bullet shells recovered from the scene of the crime as well as the bullets taken from the cadavers did not match with the firearms of the victims, the prosecutors said.

The charges of planting of evidence referred to the firearms placed near the left hand of Indamog, who was right-handed, the DOJ-NPS said.

Indammog’s hands tested negative for gunpowder.

The DOJ dismissed the neglect of duty charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation against Col. Michael Bawayan Jr., Maj. Walter Annayo and Capt. Ariel Corcino, superiors of the accused police officers.

The prosecution panel said administrative charges should be filed against the officials.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines welcomed the findings of the DOJ.