Officer found dead inside Special Forces quarters

MANILA, Philippines - A middle-grade Army officer was found dead with a gunshot wound in his chest inside the Special Forces Officers Quarters (SFOQ) at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija Wednesday evening.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Randolf Cabangbang identified the officer as Maj. Eddie Valde, executive officer of the Cebu-based 2nd Special Force Company.

Cabangbang said that Valde was found by his roommate at around 9:50 p.m. inside his bed at Room  No. 9 of the SFOQ located inside the headquarters of the SF Regiment at Fort Magsaysay.

He said that the roommate, Capt. Jomel David, rushed to their room after hearing a gunshot.

Initial investigations showed that Valde sustained a gunshot wound in the chest.

Prior to his posting in Cebu, Valde served in Mindanao as Civilian Military Officer (CMO) of the Special Task Force Basilan.

“He is a fine and hardworking officer. He used to report to me as spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom),” Cabangbang said of Valde, who was at Fort Magsaysay to attend a conference.

Cabangbang said Valde’s death was most likely accidental and not a case of a suicide.

“Kasi bakit sa dibdib ang tama at hindi sa ulo,” Cabangbang noted, adding that the fallen officer who entered the service in year 2000 through direct commission (Dicom) left his wife and a young daughter.