The Jolo Regional Trial Court in Sulu issued a warrant of arrest for the 9 police officers involved in the Jolo shooting incident in June 2020 where 4 soldiers were killed.
According to the Spokesperson of the Office of the Prosecutor General Prosecution Attorney Honey Delgado, the Jolo RTC have issued the warrant of arrest against the former cops who are charged with murder and planting of evidence.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevara disclosed that the court has issued a hold departure order against the accused.
In relation with this, the DOJ Chief will order the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to assist in the serving of the arrest warrant.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is prepared to implement the court order once it has received a copy.
PNP Spokesperson Police Brigadier General Ildebrandi Usana said the police force is hoping that the suspects will have the initiative to cooperate with authorities.
“We presume that they are with their families, they will make themselves available the moment ma-issue po ang warrant of arrest (the warrant of arrest is issued).”
PNP Chief Police General Debold Sinas has ordered to monitor the accused in order to immediately capture them once the warrant of arrest is served.
The PNP Spokesperson again asserted that liberating the 9 cops from their custody is in accordance with the law since they are dismissed from the service. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been dismayed by this action of the national police.
Report from Bea Bernardo
