PNP studying whether to dismiss Sulu provincial director, Jolo municipal police chief over soldiers’ death

July 1, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said they are studying whether to dismiss the provincial director of Sulu and the chief of the Jolo Municipal Police Station over the death of four soldiers after they were killed by nine cops in an alleged misencounter.

“There is a call for the sacking of the municipal police chief (of Jolo) and the provincial director of Sulu… this is well noted and our leadership is studying the situation and if evidence warrants and there is sufficient grounds, this will be in order,” Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in a TV interview.

Banac said they will just let the National Bureau of Investigation conduct its probe.

“So that we will know the truth on what happened and we are one with our colleagues in the Philippine Army and Armed Forces of the Philippines… we will get to know the whole truth,” he said.

Army chief Lt. General Gilbert Gapay said those who are liable should be punished.

“We are invoking command responsibility here from the municipal police station commander to the provincial commander of the PNP in Sulu as a minimum because commanders should be on top always of the situation. They are responsible for what their men do, so we are also invoking command responsibility here,"Gapay said.

Last Tuesday, PNP chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa said the nine cops involved are under  custody of the Sulu provincial director and at any time that their presence or their affidavits may be taken, they will cooperate. Ella Dionisio/DMS