Duterte to meet cops, soldiers involved in shooting incident

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on June 30, 2020. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to fly to Zamboanga City on Friday afternoon to meet with policemen and soldiers following the recent shooting incident between personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Jolo, Sulu.

During the Laging Handa program aired on state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte’s visit to Zamboanga City is meant to boost the morale of the police and the military.

“Ganoon po kaimportante ang misyon niya para po makiisa, hindi lang po sa hukbong sandatahan pati na rin po sa kapulisan (That’s how important his mission is. He will show his support to the armed forces and the police),” said Roque, who will join Duterte in the event.

The President recently directed the National Bureau of Investigation to speed up the investigation into the alleged “misencounter” between members of the PNP and AFP in Jolo that led to the death of four military personnel.

Killed were Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38; and Col. Abdal Asula, 33.

The four slain troops were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened.

Roque said Duterte wants to personally tell the police and the military that he would make sure that the recent incident would be the “last” under his watch.

He said Duterte would hold separate meetings with soldiers and the nine relieved police officers involved in the shooting incident and he would ensure that justice would be served for the four slain soldiers.

“Nandoon po si Presidente para magbigay assurance na makakamit ang katarungan. Kung merong nagkasala, mapaparusahan po dahil ganyan naman po ang administrasyon ni Presidente Duterte (The President will be there to give assurance that justice would be served. If someone commits a wrongdoing, he would be punished because that’s the policy of the administration of President Duterte),” Roque said.

Risking life

This is the first time Duterte would meet with government troops since the country was hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Roque said the Presidential Security Group (PSG) initially thumbed down Duterte’s plan to hold meetings with the military amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Duterte, however, prevailed and decided to “risk his life” just to check the condition of soldiers and policemen, he said.

“Of course, we are (worried). Pero hindi mapigilan ang Presidente. Kung masusunod ang PSG, ayaw po siyang palabasin talaga ng Bahay Pangarap. Pero ang sabi ni Presidente, kapag merong kinakailangan talagang gawin, gagawin niya (But the President cannot be stopped. If the PSG were to have its way, it does not want him to leave Bahay Pangarap.

But the President said if something needs to be done, he would do it),” Roque said.

Next public address in Davao

Duterte isolated himself in Manila for two months after he imposed an enhanced community quarantine in the entire Luzon to contain the further spread of Covid-19.

He was able to return to his hometown, Davao City, in May when he relaxed the quarantine restrictions in the country.

“I can say na ang susunod na ulat sa bayan po ay manggagaling po sa Davao (I can say that his next address to the nation will be in Davao City),” Roque said.