The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday filed before the Department of Justice criminal charges against six Jolo policemen and three members of the Sulu provincial drug enforcement unit, in connection with the killing of four Army intelligence operatives on the trail of a suspected Abu Sayyaf suicide bomber.
In a complaint, the NBI asked the DOJ to prosecute for four counts of murder and planting of evidence respondents Police Senior Master Sergeant Abdelzhimar Pajiri, Master Sergeant Hanie Badirri, Staff Sergeants Iskandar Susulan, Ernisar Sappal and Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Corporal Sulki Andaki, and Patrolmen Muhammad Nur Pasani, Rajiv Putalan and Alkajal Mandangan.
Hadjaruddin, Mandangan and Putalan are members of the Sulu provincial drug enforcement unit. They are currently under the custody of the PNP Headquarters Support Service in Camp Crame.
Murder is a non-bailable offense under the Revised Penal Code.
Sought for indictment for for neglect of duty were Sulu police provincial office chief Col. Michael Bawayan, Jolo police chief, Maj.Walter Annayo, and Sulu provincial drug enforcement unit chief Capt. Ariel Corcino.
Last week, the nine policemen declined to submit a statement to the NBI, which is probing the shooting incident that left Army Maj. Marvin Indammog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Eric Velasco, and Cpl. Abdul Asula dead.
Antonio Pagatpat, NBI Deputy Director for Regional Operations Services, said they respect the policemen's refusal to give a statement to NBI probers, saying it is part of their constitutional rights.
Pagatpat said the policemen told the NBI they would answer the allegations once a case is filed before the DOJ.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said the ballistic report submitted by the NBI showed the slain Army officers mostly sustained gunshot wounds on their backs.
The NBI did not conduct an autopsy on Asula, as he was buried immediately in accordance with Islamic traditions that call for the dead to be buried within 24 hours.
He also said the slugs and shells recovered at the crime scene matched the firearms of the policemen.