NBI report shows slain soldiers had back gunshot wounds: DOJ

Killed during the incident were Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38; and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33. The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened. Asula was buried in Sulu in Muslim rites. (File: Philippine Army/Facebook)

MANILA – The four Army intelligence operatives killed in the June 29 shooting incident by police officers in Jolo, Sulu bore gunshot wounds on their backs, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Tuesday.

In a message to newsmen, Guevarra said field agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have submitted their initial investigation report which contained the accounts of 10 witnesses, forensic findings of the medico-legal and ballistic experts, and the affidavits of the family members of the deceased soldiers.

“The ballistic report clearly indicated that the shells and slugs found at the scene of the crime matched the firearms of the police officers involved and that the bullet wounds were mostly on the back of the body, with one soldier sustaining eight wounds,” he said.

Guevarra added that the NBI is expected to sue the policemen implicated in the incident.

He also said unless the NBI intends to submit a supplemental report, he “expects that a criminal complaint will be filed very soon with the Department of Justice”.

Killed during the incident were Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38; and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33. The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened. Asula was buried in Sulu in Muslim rites.

The relieved policemen — S/Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani — are currently under restrictive custody in Camp Crame.