ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Three soldiers, including two officials, were killed in a shooting incident inside the headquarters of the Army's 9th Field Artillery Battalion (9FAB) in the province of Sulu, an official said Saturday.
Maj. Arvin John Encinas, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson, said the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Friday in Barangay Liang, Patikul, Sulu.
Encinas identified the fatalities as Maj. Rael Gabot, the executive officer of 9FAB; 1st Lieutenant Ryan Lamoste, Civil-Military Operations (CMO) officer of 9FAB; and Cpl. Jack Indap.
Tasked to provide fire support to operating ground troops, the 9FAB is under the Philippine Army’s Artillery Regiment.
Police investigation showed that prior to the incident, Lamoste confronted Indap when the CMO officer saw the latter pounding the chest of Private Ralph Patongao, a duty steward at the officers’ mess hall.
A heated argument ensued between Lamoste and Indap when the CMO officer reportedly ordered the latter to be relieved from his post after admitting he was drunk.
Further investigation showed that when Gabot was about to intervene, they were fired upon by Indap using his service firearm, an R4A3 rifle attached with M-203 Grenade Launcher.
2Lt. Clint John Cenita, who heads a unit of the Army’s 41st Infantry Battalion, shot Indap after the latter refused to surrender.
The three were rushed to Camp Bautista Station Hospital but the attending physician declared the two officers and the suspect dead on arrival. (PNA)
