MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has relieved the chief of police of Jolo in Sulu, days after police in the town figured in a shooting incident that left four Army intelligence officers dead.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac on Wednesday said Lt. Col. Walter Annayo has been placed on floating status for command responsibility over the incident.
He said the PNP regional director for BARMM, Brig Gen. Manuel Abu, and Sulu Provincial Director Col. Michael Bawayan will retain their posts, even as the National Bureau of Investigation starts a full investigation into the incident.
The PNP did not disclose who will replace Annayo as Jolo police chief.
The Philippine Army earlier demanded the relief of top police officials in Sulu for command responsibility.
The four soldiers, all Army intelligence operatives, were tracking 2 suspected suicide bombers from the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group when their van were flagged down at a checkpoint and fired upon by police.
Sulu, NBI, Philippine Army, PNP, investigation, Sulu encounter Sulu misencounter, Sulu shooting incident, AFP-PNP misencounter AFP-PNP misencounter Sulu