Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday the entire Philippine National Police force in Jolo, Sulu, should be relieved after some of its members killed four soldiers in June and the recent bombings.
“Hinihingi ko po sa pamunuan ng PNP: relieve the entire Jolo police force. Para matanggal ang agam-agam na may infiltration ng terrorista, para mapanatag ang loob ng mga Pilipino, para bigyan ng free hand ang imbestigasyon, the entire Jolo police force must be relieved,” Hontiveros said in a privilege speech.
“Kung ang tanong lang pagkatapos ng June 29 ay ‘ano ang tinatago ng kapulisan at bakit parang may cover-up?’ ngayon, pagkatapos ng pagbomba sa Jolo, ang tanong na ay ‘mayroon bang military intelligence na napunta na sa kamay ng kalaban?'” she added.
Hontiveros stressed that the four intelligence soldiers were going after the two suicide bombers when some Jolo cops gunned them down on June 29.
“We cannot turn away from this. The targets of the June 29 mission were two female bombers. Investigations into the August 24 bombing show that it was perpetrated by two female bombers. Diretsahang tanong: Did terrorist elements somehow influence, directly or indirectly, the killing of the soldiers?” Hontiveros asked.
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Hontiveros wants entire Jolo PNP relieved
The senator said the recent developments in Jolo showed the importance of putting the nine police officers involved in the shooting incident under preventive suspension.
“Sabi ng head ng IAS (Internal Affairs Service), the police officers involved will “perform duties as a policeman but their movements will be restricted to ensure their presence in investigations.” Ano po ang ibig sabihin ng ‘perform duties as a policeman?’ They will still have access to police intelligence? They can still participate in operations?” she said.
Last week, PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa said the nine cops involved in the Jolo shooting were not yet suspended pending the filing of administrative complaints.
“It is patently false to suggest that suspension can only come after a guilty verdict, because preventive suspension is an explicit mechanism under Republic Act No. 8551. It is also an explicit mechanism in the IAS manual,” Hontiveros said.