NBI probes death of female Army officer

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has stepped up its probe on the death of a female Second Lieutenant in the Philippine Army, even as her father expressed dismay over the apparent slow pace and uncoordinated investigation by police.

Efren Chavez, 42, gave his statement to the NBI Special Investigation Unit (SAU) yesterday regarding the death of his daughter, Jessica, 22, who was found dead last Friday in her quarters in Fort Bonifacio, Makati with a gunshot wound in her chest.

"They would ask me to go there when I inquired over the phone. But would not give me any (investigation) report when I got there," said Efren in Filipino referring to the Southern Police District.

Jessica is a graduate of the Sangahaya class of the Philippine Military Academy which graduated last year. The official theory is that Jessica, a member of the 191st Military police battalion committed suicide.

But according to Chavez, he saw no reason why his daughter would commit suicide except for her unexplained statement to her father earlier that she wanted out of the military.

"She said that she was not happy. She did not say why," said the elder Chavez.

Efren learned of the death of his daughter through a long-distance phone call from one of Jessica’s superior officers to their home in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur.

As of this time, Efren said, superior officers of his daughter and the police handling the case have yet to furnish him a copy of the police report. The body of Jessica was discovered about 7 p.m. Friday.

It could be recalled that an alleged suicide in a cabin of one of the Philippine Navy’s ships, the case of Ensign Philip Pestano, once rocked the military because of what was perceived was a bungled investigation as evidence was revealed that it may not have been a suicide after all. – Jose Aravilla