Kiko Pangilinan Wants Senate To Probe Death Of 4 Soldiers In Jolo, Sulu

Kiko Pangilinan Wants Senate To Probe Death of 4 Soldiers In Clash W/ Jolo, Sulu Cops

KIKO PANGILINAN – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan wants Senate to probe the death of four soldiers in Jolo, Sulu.

On Monday, June 29, four (4) soldiers were fatally shot by cops close to the Jolo police station. The military officers were on board a Montero SUV when stopped cops at a checkpoint in Marina Street.

The commander of Western Mindanao Command, Lt. Gen Cirilito Sobejana said the soldiers were on an “official function” linked to combating terrorism. He already asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate what happened because the police and the military have different versions of the incident.

Based on a report from Inquirer, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for an “independent” Senate investigation in Jolo ‘shooting incident.’ He said the news is very alarming. The controversial anti-terror bill has yet to become law but incidents like this already happened.

“Nakakabahala ang balitang ito. Ngayon pa lang na hindi pa batas ang anti-terror bill, may nangyayari nang ganito. Ano na lang ang laban ng ordinaryong tao?”

“An independent and impartial investigation will help bring out the truth so that the victims and their families find justice,” he added.

Four-Military-Sulu — Photo Source: @Bombo Radyo Iloilo FB

According to the report, Opposition Senator Kiko Pangilinan finds the incident disturbing because cops immediately used deadly force without careful judgment. He said he’s worried that it might happen to ordinary civilians.

“This incident is disturbing because it appears that the police are quick in pulling the trigger without careful judgment… If they can do this to their fellow uniformed men, how much more to the ordinary civilians who are unarmed and defenseless?”

Pangilinan called on soldiers and PNP ground commanders to “rein in their men to preserve peace and avert the escalation of tension between the armed personnel.” He said the authorities should be going after the country’s common enemy – armed groups, terrorists, drug lords, and the COVID-19 crisis.