Soldier shoots 3 comrades dead

MANILA, Philippines - An Army soldier who apparently went berserk due to personal problems shot dead three of his comrades and wounded another officer late Wednesday night at their barracks in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, a spokesman reported yesterday.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, Army spokesman said Sgt. Elias Tial, who was performing guard duties that night opened fire at the barracks where his superiors were having a meeting, killing Master Sgt. Elesio de la Cruz on the spot. The two other officers – First Lieutenant Gerald Fuentes, the team leader, and Capt. Dionico Aragon Jr., the executive officer – died while being treated at the hospital.

Capt. Benito Ramos Jr., Tial’s commanding officer sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Makati Medical Center. He is now in stable condition.

The suspect and the victims were all assigned at the Army’s Special Operations Command based in Nueva Ecija and were in Manila to prepare for the parade marking the Army anniversary next month.

The spokesman said that Tial’s father died on Saturday and was just given permission to go on leave to attend the burial when the incident took place. “Before he opened fire using his M16 service rifle, he shouted ‘Kayong mga opisyal kayo hindi kayo marunong magpauwi ng mga may problema’, so apparently he was affected by the loss of his father,” he said.

Brawner said Tial was earlier allowed to attend the burial of his uncle only last month in Iloilo.

Tial was able to escape after the incident, but his firearm was wrestled away from him by other soldiers who witnessed the shooting.

The spokesman said they have asked the help of the police as well as Army intelligence units which launched a manhunt operation to capture the said soldier. Tracker dogs from the Army’s K9 unit were deployed to track him down.   – With Rhodina Villanueva, AP