The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said they will leave it up to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to determine if the alleged shooting by policemen to four Army intelligence officers were excessive.

“We expect that that will be covered by the NBI and analyzing the autopsy report is part of their investigation,” Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, told reporters

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit the Western Mindanao Command Friday to talk with the officials and policemen involved in the incident.

News reports quoted the NBI as saying one of the soldiers was shot eight times.

Banac said they will not give comments  while the investigation is ongoing.

“We will just wait for the result of the investigation of NBI. We cannot give further comments aside from the relief of the Jolo Municipal Police chief as part of his command responsibility and this was approved by the provincial director of Sulu and the regional director of Police Region Office- BARMM,” he said.

They will also let NBI validate the video circulating online where some law enforcers were seen going to the cadaver of the soldiers.

“The PNP will continue to trust NBI on whatever will be the outcome of their investigation and we assure that anyone who will be proven guilty, abuse their power, and violate the law will face the consequences so that justice will be given to those who died,” he said.

Banac said they are fully coordinating with the NBI. Ella Dionisio/DMS