Dismissed Jolo police chief gunned down in Maguindanao

The Jolo police chief who was sacked over the killing of 4 Army soldiers in June was gunned down in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Saturday, November 21. 

Dismissed Jolo police chief Lieutenant Colonel Walter Annayo had faced an administrative complaint over the Jolo shooting incident where 9 cops allegedly killed 4 Army intelligence officers in June.

According to a police report on the incident, Annayo was killed at 1:45 pm along the Narciso Ramos Highway in Barangay Macabiso. Annayo had gotten down from his Toyota Fortuner to purchase some buko (coconut) juice when an unidentified suspect onboard another Toyota Fortuner fired at him. 

Annayo was shot on the head and different parts of his body, resulting in his instant death. 

Police on Saturday said the incident is still under investigation and that personnel were locating the suspect’s white Toyota Fortuner. 

Annayo’s killing comes over two months after he and two other cops were slapped with administrative complaints for “neglect of duty” over a shooting incident in June where 9 cops allegedly killed 4 Army intelligence officers in Sulu. 

The 9 Sulu policemen allegedly shot down the 4 Army intelligence officers after suspecting them as enemies, when they were, in fact, conducting a surveillance operation on suicide bombers who later caused the deadly Jolo twin bombings.

Annayo was not on the scene but was being held accountable for negligence and command responsibility.

Annayo was sacked from his post in Jolo on July 1. – Sofia Tomacruz/Rappler.com