An alleged altercation over a police officer's long hair led to the killing of the provincial police chief of Sulu province Friday.
POLICE authorities at Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have ordered an investigation in the killing of Sulu Police Director P/Col Michael Bawayan Jr. Friday (August 6).
In a statement, Police Regional Office - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) Director B/Gen. Eden Ugale condemned the "unfortunate incident" and urged fellow police officers to offer prayers for the fatalities that included Bayawan’s alleged shooter, PSSg. Imran Jilah.
“The tragic loss of Col. Bawayan is undeniably heartbreaking to the entire police force of PRO-BARMM. We mourn for the loss of a comrade who died while performing his sworn duty,” Ugale said in a statement issued Saturday (August 7).
“The PRO-BARMM considers this as an isolated incident. In no way will such an incident affect the sworn duty of PRO-BARMM personnel to serve and protect our people in the Bangsamoro region.”
According to police reports, Bayawan, 49, was allegedly shot by Jilah, 43, his subordinate, Friday afternoon at a checkpoint in Barangay Asturias, Jolo, Sulu.
The Sulu police chief was inspecting a police quarantine control checkpoint in the area when he had an altercation with Jilah over the latter's long hair.
Holding a pair of scissors, Bayawan allegedly approached Jilah to cut his hair but the latter opened fire with his service M4 rifle.
Jilah was killed on the spot by other policemen at the scene, while Bawayan died while being rushed to the provincial hospital.
Ugale has directed the PRO-BARMM’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to conduct a separate probe into the shooting and to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Tags: #PhilippineNationalPolice, #JoloSulu, #policekilling