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The Philippine National Police continues its investigation into the murder of the former Jolo police chief in Maguindanao over the weekend, but has no further developments on the case, Gen. Debold Sinas said on Monday while asking the public to refrain from making speculations.
Lt. Col. Walter Annayo was shot dead by gunmen aboard a Toyota Fortuner on Saturday while purchasing coconut juice on the side of a road in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao. It sparked speculation that the shooting could have something to do with the killing of four army intelligence officers by nine Jolo police officers in Sulu in June this year.
The nine police officers, facing charges, have since been transferred to Camp Crame, where they are being held, while Annayo was relieved of her post and transferred to the Regional Police Office in Bangsamoro while facing administrative charges of command responsibility.
The PNP initially called the killing of soldiers by the police in a counterintelligence mission against terrorists a wrong encounter, but then-Army Chief, now head of the Philippine Armed Forces Gilbert Gapay, said it was murder. .
“My call is for everyone to allow the investigation to continue and avoid entertaining unfounded theories and unverified information, after all, our common goal is to discover the truth and serve the purposes of justice,” Sinas said in his first conference of press with Reporters from Camp Crame.
“I am sure that sooner or later there will be a significant advance in the investigation, perhaps a solid clue that brings us closer to the logical conclusion of this case,” he added.
Sinas said the investigation is being carried out by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. He instructed the Bangsamoro regional police chief to give “special attention” to the case, not only because Annayo was a member of the PNP but “because her death is vulnerable to undue speculation that will only cloud the investigation.”
