PRESIDENT Duterte has ordered a speedy investigation into the killing of four soldiers by policemen in Sulu on Monday, and wanted a meeting with the nine policemen soon, his spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.
Roque, in a television interview, said the President was deeply saddened by the incident and directed Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to set up the meeting.
“Without revealing kung kailan at saan mangyayari ang pagpupulong ay hiningi ni Presidente kay Secretary Año na gusto niyang makausap iyong mga pulis, iyong siyam na pulis na diumano ay nagpaputok doon sa apat na Army personnel, kasama ang isang major. Lungkot na lungkot siya (Without revealing when and where it would be held, the President asked Secretary Año to set up the meeting as he wants to talk to the policemen, the nine policemen who allegedly shot at the four Army personnel, including a major. He was really saddened),” he said.
He also said the President felt weak upon learning of the incident and was “extremely sad.”
Armed Forces chief Gen. Felimon Santos and PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa have agreed to let the National Bureau of Investigation to probe to the incident.
Military officials have questioned a police report on the incident which the police claimed to be a “mis-encounter. Army chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay on Tuesday called the incident a “rubout” and “murder.”
Roque said Duterte wants to visit the place of the incident and talk to the Army soldiers and lift their morale.
“Hindi daw dapat nagpapatayan, nag-i-engkuwentro ang parehong ideolohiya. At sabi niya, sana ito na ang huling mis-encounter sa kaniyang termino (He said those fighting for the same ideology should not be killing each other. He said he is hopeful that this would be the last mis-encounter in his term),” he added.
Reports said the four soldiers, all members of the intelligence units, were flagged down by the policemen manning a checkpoint in Jolo on Monday afternoon and asked to proceed to the police station.
The SUV boarded by the soldiers reportedly stopped some 50 meters away from the police station. One of the soldiers reportedly alighted from the vehicle was allegedly shot at while others passengers of the SUV were also allegedly shot.
