Gov’t to probe mistaken slay of soldier by cops

The government has started an investigation into the killing of a soldier in Zamboanga del Sur while he was on a break from his duty in Marawi City.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. said the joint probe to be conducted by the military and the police will determine if there were “procedural lapses” committed by the concerned parties.

Private First Class Rodilo Bartolome was on his way home when he was killed in an supposed encounter with policemen in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur.

The policemen, who were responding to a report of a suspicious person, shot Bartolome after he allegedly drew his pistol.

“While we are in mourning for the death of one of our Marawi heroes, we call for prayers and sobriety as we seek for immediate resolution to this case,” Padilla said, reading a statement from the AFP-Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom).

“We would like to solicit everyone’s understanding, if we cannot — that we cannot divulge more information at the moment since this is a sensitive matter still under investigation, and we wish to give due consideration to the family’s privacy,” he added.

He maintained that Bartolome, assigned with the 53rd Infantry Battalion, showed no sign of combat stress or fatigue.

He said the soldier was permitted to go on an overnight task by his immediate superior purposely to visit his family in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur. He was deployed in Marawi last May, after his unit was sent there to help quell the crisis, according to Padilla.

“Baka may na-violate na mga procedural lapses ang ating kapulisan or kung hindi man, ‘yung tao natin. Kaya kinakailangan malaman natin [Procedural lapses might have been committed by the police or our man. That’s why we must uncover the truth],” he said.

Padilla admitted that the incident has generated growing tension between the police and military following the incident. He assured though the Armed Forces will remain a “professional organization, adding they expect the police force to be the same.

“So kontrolado po natin ang ating mga tauhan at ang pangako lang natin ay maibigay ang tamang proseso para maimbestigahan ng maayos ito. At ganun din naman ang ine-expect namin sa ating mga kasamahan sa pulis [We have control over our men and we promise a proper investigation on the incident. We expect the same from our brothers in the police],” he said.