I’M talking of the killing of Police Captain Roland Arnold Moralde while trying to accost an armed man inside a crowded public market in Parang, Magundanao del Norte last May 2 wherein CCTV footages showed some of the suspects still firing shots at the lone officer while he was already slumped on the ground.

On Monday, PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said they are sure that the Filipino-Muslim community is with them in condemning the tragic death of Moralde and won’t condone the act of their fellows, two of them also policemen charged in connection with the murder of the police captain who belongs to the Catholic faith.

The PNP leadership at the same time called on everybody to refrain from making any generalization or ‘profiling’ in the case of the slain officer and the accused as officials maintained that everybody must treat every other religion with the same respect regardless of their beliefs, culture and origin.

The tragic shooting of Moralde who was given a posthumous promotion and medal for bravery has shocked everybody who saw the video of the killing. However, the PNP expressed belief that BARMM officials and their constituents won’t favor their fellows who have broken the law.

Right now, what the PNP need is to have witnesses who are willing to testify on what really happened during that fateful day. There are questions that need to be answered here: Who really fired the first shot? Why did Moralde’s colleagues suddenly disappear during the gunfight? What were the two accused policemen doing in the area? Are they off-duty or not?

Is it true that the man accosted by Moralde and later killed in the exchange of fire and the accused are related to top officials in the province who in turn are related to local prosecutors? Is there really a deliberate effort to weaken the case? What is the Justice department doing about this? Will other non-Muslim policemen try to accost armed men on sight in the province and elsewhere in Mindanao knowing what happened to Moralde?

I happened to be a friend to many Filipino-Muslims who really preach and inspire peace, tolerance and non-violence and I honestly believe they too have been shocked by the killing of Moralde.

However, I just can’t wait to hear the sentiments of the family and other relatives, friends and colleagues of the slain cop after hearing the developments about his case.

Col. Fajardo told me that the act committed by the two accused policemen is really ‘uncalled for’ and she is pretty sure that the Filipino-Muslim community is also condemning the crime they have committed.

The official said that the two accused identified as Police Master Sergeants Aladdin Ramalan and Shariff Balading have been told to report to the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Administration Region headquarters where they will be placed under restrictive custody.

The order was given hours after the two were ordered released immediately from the Parang Municipal Police Station Jail last May 7 by the Maguindanao del Norte prosecutor’s office unless they are being detained for other lawful causes.

The prosecutor’s decision prompted PNP chief, General Rommel Marbil and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos to order a thorough investigation into the matter with the PRO-BAR headed by Brigadier Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn directed to thoroughly study the case and see to it that all legal remedies will be undertaken to bring justice to the slain police captain.

The PRO-BAR, according to Fajardo has already submitted its position paper to the local prosecutor’s office amid its decision to release the two.Col. Fajardo said the prosecutor’s office issued a resolution ordering the release of the two accused saying that the complaint-affidavit does not contain necessary evidence to prove the essential elements of murder.

However, she said that it was very clear in recovered CCTV recordings that the hapless officer was shot to death by the suspects, a copy of the extracted CCTV footage also submitted to the prosecutor’s office as part of the evidence. Also a lawyer, Col. Fajardo said ‘this will suffice and constitute prima face evidence to prove that what happened to Moralde is murder.”

The PRO-BAR has also also sought the assistance of the PNP Legal Service in studying the possibility of transferring the case outside of BARMM, preferably in Manila amid reports that the accused are related with local politicians and prosecutors.

The PRO-BAR submitted their position paper answering all arguments raised by the prosecutor’s office. It maintained that the two accused policemen voluntarily appeared at the Parang MPS and turned over their PNP-issued firearms and even affixed their signatures on the police blotter as witnessed by a sister of one of the two policemen.

Col. Fajardo said that a blotter extract regarding the voluntary surrender of the two was submitted as a supporting document to the complaint. “The contention of the PRO-BAR is that the two were not arrested by virtue of a warrantless arrest but they voluntarily surrendered. Distinct po yung dalawa, iba po yung act of surrender sa concept ng warrantless arrest,” Col. Fajardo said.

Spent casings of caliber .45, 9mm and M-16 rifles recovered at the scene have also been subjected to a ballistics examination even as the two policemen tested positive for gunpowder nitrates during a paraffin test shortly after they surrendered. Both hands of one of the two accused policemen tested positive for gunpowder nitrates while the right hand of the 2nd cop tested positive in the paraffin test.

The two policemen committed to report to the PRO-BAR headquarters where they will be placed under restrictive custody. Ramalan is a member of the Matanog MPS while Balading is assigned at the Raja Buayan MPS. Both will also be be investigated by the Regional Internal Affairs Service.

It seems to me that PRO-BAR already has the goods against the two accused policemen. What it needs to do is to account for the rest of the killers and see to it that they will be prosecuted to the hilt, without fear or favor to give real justice to Capt. Moralde.