CIDG agents nab ex-cop wanted for multiple murder
PHILIPPINE National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) director, Major General Eliseo DC Cruz on Sunday announced the capture of a 43-year old former Sulu policeman wanted for his role in the killing of four Army troops in the Walled City of Jolo in 2020.
The official said Abdulzhimer Padjiri,a former member of the Jolo Municipal Police Station was arrested while fleeing a house in Kasalamatan Village, Barangay San Raymundo 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
In a report to PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos, the PNP-CIDG director said his men were assisted by officers from the PNP Special Action Force, the Jolo Municipal Police Station and the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion in arresting the suspect.
Prior to the arrest of the suspect, Cruz said that members of the CIDG Sulu Provincial Field Unit served a non-bailable warrant of arrest for four counts of murder issued against the accused by Judge Alsad Alfad of the Jolo Regional Trial Court Branch 3 on January 3, 2021.
Sensing the presence of the lawmen, the suspect scaled the fence at the back of the house and went inside another house where he was accosted by back-up operatives when the owner of the 2nd residence shouted for help.
Maj. Gen. Cruz said that Padjiri, a resident of Tulay, Zone 2 in Jolo refused to identify himself until he was positively identified by an informant when taken to the Jolo police station.
Cruz said the accused eventually confessed his real identity in the presence of local barangay officials.
The official said that Padjiri was among the members of the Jolo MPS and the Sulu Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit who were accused of shooting four Army troopers, two of them officers on June 29, 2020 following an altercation.
