Army honors slain Cordilleran soldier
THE REMAINS of the three of four soldiers who died in Jolo, Sulu arrived at the Villamor Air Base including Major Marvin Indammog from Kalinga.
The Air Force plane and steel caskets bearing remains of Major Indammog, 39, Captain Irwin Managuelod, 33, Sergeant Jaime Velasco, 38, arrived on Tuesday,
June 30 at Villamor Airbas in Pasay City and were given full military arrival honors.
Indammog is a member of Philippine Military Academy Mandala Class of 2006 and is commanding officer of 9th Intelligence Security Unit.
They were received by their families and comrades and Army Commanding General Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay while and Corporal Abdal Asula, 33, burial rites will be held in Sulu.
The Philippine Army in a statement on the fatal shooting of four Philippine Army personnel said on Monday afternoon, a military intelligence team on board a sport utility vehicle composed of two officers and two enlisted personnel under the 11th Infantry Division were hot on the trail of Abu Sayyaf members, bomb makers, and suicide bombers in Sulu province.
The statement added they were flagged down by personnel of Jolo Municipal Police Station who were manning a checkpoint in Jolo town proper. Even after properly identifying themselves, the police personnel approached and fired upon them for still unknown reasons.
Enraged Army Commanding General Gapay also demanded for a fullblown investigation to be conducted on the death of four soldiers from the hands of PNP forces.
"The soldiers were on a mission to identify the location of known terrorists in the area. Based on eyewitness accounts, no altercation transpired between the two parties nor was there any provocation on the part of Army personnel to warrant such carnage. Furthermore, no agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency are involved and this is not an antidrug operation. The Army grieves and condoles with the families of our fallen men. There will be no let up in our quest for truth and justice," Gapay said.
He also condoled with the bereaved families and assured the necessary assistance will be given to the families of the slain soldiers.
“This tragedy imposed a great loss for our pursuit of peace in the Sulu region. The Philippine Army is strongly demanding for an impartial investigation to get to the bottom of this without any intention to create animosity between the Army and the PNP. However, we are professional organizations and we will not let this pass. The Army seeks that justice be served for our fallen heroes,” added Gapay.
Philippine National Police Chief Archie Gamboa, in a separate statement, said nine PNP personnel were involved.
He stressed that the PNP is open to an investigation and to any charges that may be filed against the police personnel involved in the incident.
The National Bureau of Investigation was also asked to conduct an impartial probe into the incident that saw the death of four soldiers, including two officials.