BUT WHAT IS THE ‘MOTIVE?’

THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last July 21, 2020, announced it has concluded its investigation of the bloody June 29, 2020 Jolo, Sulu incident that resulted to the death of four intelligence officers from the Philippine Army.

In a statement, the NBI said charged for murder before the Department of Justice were six Jolo policemen and three of their colleagues from the Sulu Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, namely:

P/MSgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri and Hannie Baddiri, P/SSgt. Iskandar Susulan, Erniskar Sappal, P/Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Patrolman Moh Nur Pasani of the Jolo Police Office; Sulu PDEU officers, P/SSgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin and, Patrolmen Alkajal Mandangan and Rajiv Putalan.

“After a thorough perusal of the records of this case, we are convinced that the evidence presented amply demonstrates that the victims were killed and that it was the nine police officers who killed them,” the NBI said.

Killed that fateful day were: Major Marvin Indammog, Captain Irwin Managuelod, Sergeant Jaime Velasco Jr. and, Corporal Abdal Asula.

The victims were all members of the Intelligence Service Group (ISG) of the Philippine Army tasked that day to find out the possible whereabouts of two female ‘suicide bombers’ of the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf.

The accused, the NBI added, simultaneously attacked the victims who have no “opportunity to defend themselves.”

Also charged for neglect of duty were, Sulu police chief, P/Col. Michael Bawayan, Jolo police chief, P/Major Walter Annayo, and, SPDEU chief, P/Capt. Ariel Corcino.

Right after the incident, both leaderships of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), agreed for the NBI to handle the investigation in order to prevent the suspicion of a “whitewash.”

But while the cause of the victims’ death (murder) was established by the NBI, something was not mentioned in the report: the “motive” or underlying reason why the policemen attacked the soldiers despite being fully aware of their true identity.

Sources averred the NBI deliberately withheld the motive for the murders as this would divulge the possible involvement of some local politicians with the ASG or, their ties to criminal gangs involved in illegal drugs.

“The withholding of the most likely motive may also be on the ‘instruction of higher authorities,’” the sources said.

“The ‘game plan,’ it seems, is to let this crucial matter be divulged during formal trial. The proceedings of course, can be easily controlled by the authorities by limiting media’s access,” they added.