The supposed transport of the nine policemen involved in the controversial death of four military intelligence agents over the weekend were deferred after one of them tested positive for the coronavirus during the rapid test.
While testing positive in a rapid test is not conclusive, Philippine National Police (PNP chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said the decision to forego the plan of bringing the policemen involved was a precautionary measure.
Gamboa said they found out about the medical condition of one of the nine cops when they were all subjected to testing as a requirement for their travel to Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“So I am now putting the responsibility to the regional director of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR), Brigadier General Manuel Abu, to bring the policemen anytime this week to Camp Crame. The Regional Director will serve as the escort,” said Gamboa.
Gamboa said the nine policemen were supposed to be flown to Manila using a military cargo plane after their visit to Western Mindanao wherein President Duterte talked to the military commanders to ease the tension caused by the death of four military spies, two of them are officers and products of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
After the testing as done and one of them tested positive during the rapid test, Gamboa said that the Philippine Air Force officials decided not to allow all the nine policemen from boarding the plane.
“All of the nine policemen have been on the restrictive custody together so the possibility of infection among them is probable,” said Gamboa.
“We are expecting that within the week, all of them will test negative so that they will be brought together here at Camp Crame,” he added.
MURDER RAPS
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año vowed on Monday to file murder charges against the nine policemen who killed four Army intelligence officers.
“Ano man ‘yung motive, ano man ang background niyan, these suspects will be charged and will have to answer for murder,” Año said during an interview over CNN Philippines.
Año pointed out that autopsy conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) showed that one of the victims, Maj. Arvin Indamog, sustained one gunshot wound in the arm and eight gunshot wounds in the back.
“Yun ‘yung pinaka revealing doon. Why do you have to shoot a person eight times at the back? So that would actually constitute murder,” he stressed.
Año also bared that witnesses also told the NBI that there were also no gunfight that took place.
The secretary said NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor himself has already briefed President Duterte about the initial findings of the investigation during the Chief Executive’s visit in Zamboanga City. (Aaron Recuenco, Jeffrey Damicog)