A court in Sulu has finally issued warrants for the arrest of the nine Jolo policemen

charged with the murder of four Army intelligence officers in an appalling incident in
June last year, which caused a dangerous rift between the police and military
establishments.
The problem is that the Jolo cops are nowhere in sight. They were released forthwith
by the Philippine National Police on New Year’s Day after PNP chief Debold Sinas
approved their dismissal from service.
Why the PNP’s uncharacteristic zeal to release the Jolo 9, when it knew full well the
gravity of their offense? Worse, despite a request from Justice Secretary Menardo
Guevarra himself to keep them in custody as the arrest warrants were forthcoming?
Guevarra disclosed to the media that the murder suspects were released before the
warrants could be issued. The issuance of the warrants was delayed since the Sulu
judge was reportedly out of the province when the quarantine lockdown was imposed,
and a new judge had to be assigned to handle the case.
“The nine police officers were released from custody despite requests of the DOJ with
the PNP to hold them awhile until the arrest warrants were issued,” he said.