BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 26(PIA) -- Philippine National Police Chief General Debold Sinas assured the family of the late Police Lt. Col. Walter Annayo of a speedy investigation of the cas.

In his visit to the wake of the slain police officer in Baguio City on Monday night, Sinas said he has tasked the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to step into the case and assist the local police investigators in Maguindanao to ensure that justice be served the soonest.

Police report from the Sultan Mastura police station said Annayo was shot to death by still unknown assailant in Barangay Macabiso, Sultan Mastura,

Maguindanao at around 1:45 p.m last Saturday (Nov. 21). He reportedly alighted from his vehicle to buy a drink along Narciso Ramos Highway in Barangay Macabiso when unidentified suspects on board a sports utility vehicle gunned him down then fled towards Parang town.

The remains of Annayo who hailed from Mountain Province was flown from Sulu and to Baguio City on Monday morning.

Annayo, a member of the PNPA Bagong Tanglaw Class 2006, is survived by his wife and two young children.

Annayo was relieved from his post in Jolo following the shooting incident involving nine police officers who allegedly shot dead four Army intelligence operatives in Jolo, Sulu on June 29, 2020 who were tracking two suicide bombers. Among those killed was Major Marvin Indammog from Kalinga who was the commanding officer of the 9th Intelligence Service Unit in Sulu.

Sinas clarified that the Annayo was not involved in the incident but since he was the chief of police of Jolo then, he was relieved because of command responsibility.

The Chief PNP extended financial assistance to the Annayo family and assured expeditious release of all death benefits due the deceased officer. (JDP/RMC- PIA-CAR)