MANILA – The military is not inclined to believe that one of its Marawi veterans, shot by the police in Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur, was suffering from combat stress, Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said late Thursday.
He said that is very unlikely as the companions of Pfc. Rudillo Bartolome in the 53rd Infantry Battalion saw nothing strange in his behavior that would indicate that he is suffering from combat stress before he left camp. Padilla added that, if is he was, it would have been impossible for Bartolome to commute and reach home.
The trooper was shot dead by police officers after he allegedly pulled his .45-caliber pistol when accosted by the law enforcers Wednesday.
Joint military and police investigations are ongoing.
Bartolome was given an overnight pass by his superiors to visit his family in Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur. He had been deployed to help neutralize the Maute Group terrorists following the May 23 rampage in Marawi City. (PNA)