PAF officer guns down deputy

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A drinking session between a Philippine Air Force (PAF) officer and his deputy in their barracks in Basilan Saturday night turned bloody with the former fatally shooting the latter.

Slain was Capt. Mario Jesus Fernandez, 44, assistant deputy of the 355th Aviation Engineering Wing deployed in Sumisip town for humanitarian projects, said Lt. Col. Epifanio Panzo, PAF spokesman.

The suspect, Lt. Col. Arturo Apud, the victim’s commanding officer, is now in the custody of the 3rd Tactical Operation Wing at the Edwin Andrews Air Force Base here.

The PAF Inspector General is set to investigate the motive behind the incident.

Investigation showed that the two PAF officers were engaged in a drinking session in their barracks when a verbal tussle ensued between them, leading to the shooting at around 8:30 p.m Saturday. 

Fernandez’s remains were brought to the headquarters of the 3rd Tactical Operation Wing in this city, and would be flown later to Mandaluyong City. 

“It was unfortunate that the incident happened to these officers while conducting humanitarian work in Basilan,” Panzo said.