Navy officer in Calumay’s death dropped from roster

MANILA, Philippines - A Navy officer seen with Marine 1Lt. Shelina Calumay before she was found dead at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig last month was dropped from the Navy roster 10 days after he went absent without leave (AWOL).

Navy spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said Ltjg. Benjie Chico has not been reporting for duty since the third day of Calumay’s death.

“He went AWOL on day three,” Arevalo said. He said he was not feeling well so he was allowed not to report to office.

Arevalo said the Navy is processing Chico’s separation from the service.

“He was supposed to be dropped from the rolls already,”Arevalo said. “Since he is an officer, it’s the President who signs his appointment. It’s also the President who will sign his removal from active military service.”

Arevalo said Chico remains a person of interest because he was the last to see Calumay.

“He is a material witness,” Arevalo said. “At the very least, he will be questioned.”

Arevalo stressed that the person last seen with someone who is later on found dead is not necessarily the killer.

The 33-year-old Calumay was found dead in the driver’s seat of her gray Suzuki Swift parked in front of Jurado Hall at the Bonifacio Naval Station at around 6 a.m. last Nov. 26.           

She was an aide-de-camp of Marine Brig. Gen. Remegio Valdez, Navy inspector-general. She was also a disbursing officer of the unit tasked to conduct inspection to prevent anomalous practices.