Mindanaotoday.com | Soldier in Oro goes amok; 5 dead, 1 wounded
By: Franck Dick Rosete
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Five soldiers were killed – including the suspect – and another one was wounded following a shooting inside the Phil. Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) headquarters at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Barangay Patag, this city, early Saturday morning, Feb. 11.
Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., 4ID spokesperson, said the suspect shot his fellow soldiers using an M16 rifle firearm while sleeping in their barracks at the Service Support Battalion (SSBn) unit.
Garello confirmed one of the dead victims was the suspect’s roommate and the other victims got involved after the said assailant went to their respective rooms and shot them.
“Pinuntahan yun ng suspek isa-isa at yun nga (The suspect had gone [to the rooms] one by one and there) shot the victims,” Garello said.
Amid the incident, two soldiers had already noticed the gunshots and they were the ones who neutralized the suspect in self-defense after he forcibly entered their room.
The suspect had visited a total of five rooms, the 4ID spokesperson said.
The 4ID is still currently gathering other information from the witnesses to establish what happened prior to the incident.
“Wala po tayong prior knowledge sa ngayon kung ano talaga ang naging motibo at kinu-collate pa ang mga statements before nangyari ito at sino mga nakasama niya [suspect] (We don’t have prior knowledge for now if what really the motive, and the collection of the statements is ongoing prior the incident and who were with him),” Garello said.
The 4ID has created a special team to expedite the investigation in order to determine the truth behind the incident, and to come up with a plan to avoid the same occurrence.
The suspect and victims were residents from different areas in Mindanao and the 4ID is continuously contacting the relatives of the involved soldiers to inform them about the incident.
Garello and the rest of the 4ID, under the leadership of Commander Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, expressed their sincerest condolences to the bereaved family and assured that all assistance will be extended to the family, including the necessary benefits for the soldiers.
In a statement released Saturday, the 4ID said it is still on the process of informing the families of the SSBn personnel who died during the incident as well as the family of the wounded personnel.
“In these trying times, we are one with families praying for the repose of their souls. We assure them that all assistance will be facilitated and provided to the families to include the benefits and claims,” the 4ID said.
“Finally, we assure the public that this is an isolated incident. This will not have any impact in the operations of SSBn. Hence, 4ID created a Board of Inquiry (BOI) Team to closely collaborate with the PNP COCPO and SOCO in order to expedite the investigation and put closure to this unfortunate incident,” it added. (MT)
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