GI in hot water for shooting stray animals

A US Navy officer detailed as part of an advance party for the forthcoming joint military exercises in Sulu has been firing at animals that stray into the compound occupied by US troops, Philippine officials said yesterday.

LtSG. Mike Rice, a member of the US Navy’s elite SEAL (sea, air and land) forces, has not heeded repeated warnings by his Filipino counterparts against using animals for target practice, the officials said.

Rice "continued to shoot stray animals despite being admonished by local military officials from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 4," a Philippine military report said.

US authorities are investigating the incident, according to Army Col. James Linder, commander of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines whose members will undertake Balikatan exercises in Jolo.

"There have been reports of an unhealthy stray dog that had to be destroyed by US forces. It was believed to be a safety concern because rabies is endemic to the area," Linder informed The STAR.

He added, "There is an ongoing investigation."

US Embassy spokesman Matt Lussenholp said both the embassy and the military are looking into the report, adding that "if anyone has violated the rules of military conduct, disciplinary action will be taken."

The report did not specify what kinds of animals Rice had gunned down. His behavior could jeopardize the holding of the joint war exercises of American and Philippine troops in the island-province next week and is likely to be condemned by local and international animal rights advocates.

The US contingent to which Rice belongs occupies a compound at Seit Higad beach at Barangay Seit in Panamao town, adjacent to the headquarters of the MBLT-4.

Rice and his group were reportedly tasked to render veterinary, medical and dental services in Sulu in order to foster good relations with residents.

Rice was first caught shooting stray animals on the night of Feb. 10 at the Seit Higad beach, reports said.

He was also witnessed egging on other US servicemen to shoot animals that enter their compound.

The officer-in-charge of MBLT-4 "already reminded them that said action would destroy their good rapport established with the residents in the area. But it was noted that Rice was not heeding their advice," local military officials reported.

Rice and his group arrived in Sulu late last month to conduct humanitarian and civil military operations. They were designated as the advance party to pave the way for orderly conduct of the joint RP-US Balikatan exercises in Sulu, which has long been the lair of Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

Aside from Sulu, the war games will be simultaneously held in Luzon and Cebu from Feb. 20 to March 5.

Rice’s case emerged as an Olongapo regional trial court prepared to try four US servicemen for allegedly raping a 22-year-old Filipino woman at the Subic Freeport last Nov. 1.

According to reports, wild boars migrated from nearby Tawi-Tawi province and are known to inhabit the areas around Barangay Seit.

Residents also said that the waters off Seit beach have been claimed by a ferocious giant crocodile. Though nobody has seen the crocodile in recent years, residents can still recall stories of the crocodile’s attacks on people straying into its territory.

In the 1980s, American servicemen detailed at the US Air Force’s Crow Valley base in Capas, Tarlac were reported to have fired upon people who strayed into the base’s gunnery range. The base is now occupied by the Philippine Air Force after the US government withdrew from its bases in the Philippines in 1992. — With Roel Pareño