Military wants NBI to probe killing of 4 soldiers by cops

The military has asked the National Bureau of Investigation to look into a gunfight with the police that killed 4 soldiers in the southern province of Sulu, an official said Tuesday.

Police earlier said the soldiers who were not wearing their uniform and were on board a sports utility vehicle sped past a checkpoint at a residential area in Jolo town. They allegedly pointed their guns at policemen, which prompted the clash.

• 4 sundalo napatay ng mga pulis sa 'engkwentro' sa Sulu

The soldiers were on an "official function" linked to terrorism, said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the military's Western Mindanao Command.

"Dahil sa may iba't ibang bersyon, nag-request po ako ng National Bureau of Investigation dito sa Region 9 na magsagawa ng kaukulang imbestigasyon... Kailangan independent o third-party para po ma-uphold natin ang impartiality," he told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.

(Because there are different versions of the incident, I requested the NBI in Region 9 to conduct a probe. It needs to be independent or done by a third-party so we can uphold impartiality.)

The slain soldiers had ranks of major, captain, sergeant and corporal, he said. Sobejana declined to give additional details, saying he did not want to preempt the investigation.

TeleRadyo, June 30, 2020