The regional trial court (RTC) in Jolo, Sulu has issued arrest warrants against nine dismissed policemen who were charged for the killing of four Army intelligence officers last year, the Department of Justice (DoJ) said Friday.
“Warrants were issued yesterday,” announced prosecution lawyer Honey Delgado, spokesperson of the DoJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General.
Aside from this, Delgado said prosecutors handling the case have also asked the RTC to issue hold departure orders (HDOs) against the nine dismissed cops to prevent them from fleeing the country.
“HDO hearing today,” Delagado revealed about the case that is assigned to Jolo RTC Branch 3. The dismissed policemen are facing murder and planting of evidence charges for the June 29 killing of Maj. Arvin Indamog, Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Eric Velasco and Cpl. Abdal Asula, who were engaged in surveillance operations of suspected suicide bombers in Jolo. Those charged were Abdelzhimar H. Padjiri, Hanie U. Baddiri, Iskandar I. Susulan, Ernisar P. Sappal, Sulki M. Andaki, Moh Nur E. Pasani, Admudzrin M. Hadjaruddin, Alkajal J. Mandangan, and Rajiv Patulan.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas has already approved the recommendations of the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to have the nine dismissed from service.
The PNP said it had released the nine from restrictive custody following the incident due to lack of arrest warrants against them.
The arrest warrants were issued after Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez temporarily assigned Judge Hailil Alfad Jr. of RTC Branch 25 of Siasi, Sulu to Jolo RTC Branch 3 and Parang RTC Branch 4 also in Sulu.
Marquez explained that Judge Grace Tillah Alasco of Jolo RTC Branch 3 and Judge Shene Chiong Canete of Parang RTC Branch 4 could not return to province because of the ongoing lockdown due to the rise of cases of COVID-19.
