Sulu police chief Colonel Michael Bawayan Jr was shot and killed by another policeman in Jolo town on Friday, August 6.

Police Staff Sergeant Imran Jilah, 43, shot Bawayan at a checkpoint outside Camp Jul-asirim in Barangay Asturias, after the police chief called out Jilah for his untidy hair.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story referred to the Sulu police chief as Michael Bayawan Jr. This has been corrected.

The incident happened at around 4:20 pm, according to the initial police report. The crime scene is just two blocks away from the house of Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.

Bawayan was inspecting the checkpoint when he saw the suspect and called him out for his hair. But, the suspect responded with gunfire, according to the report.

Bawayan’s security aide’s shot back at the suspect. Bawayan and Jilah and were rushed to the Integrated Provincial Health Office in Sulu but were pronounced dead on arrival.

It was not the first time that Bawayan had called out the suspect, according to Jolo police.

PNP chief General Guillermo Eleazar said he ordered an investigation into the death of Bawayan. Eleazar said he instructed PNP Bangsamoro chief Brigadier General Eden Ugale to create a special investigation task group that would lead the probe. 

The incident in Sulu is the latest involving a policeman killing a fellow cop during an altercation. In June, Quezon City cop Corporal Sherwin Rebot shot dead Police Corporal Higino Wayan after losing an arm wrestling match.

That same month, two cops were killed, including the suspect, following a shootout inside the headquarters of the Manila Police District (MPD). Police Executive Master Sergeant Reynante Dipasupil, who appeared to be drunk, allegedly fired his gun indiscriminately inside the headquarters.

– Rappler.com