RP-US war exercises claim first ‘casualty’

The controversial joint RP-US war games "Balikatan 02-01" has claimed its first casualty – and not in the jungles of Basilan where some 80 Abu Sayyaf gunmen hold fort, but in a fishport in Metro Manila, thousands of kilometers away from the battlefield.

Caught in the crossfire of searing arguments about the war games was Ernesto Garcia, 45, of Barangay Tangos, Navotas. He was allegedly stabbed to death by two neighbors over the contentious issue.

Garcia sustained multiple stab wounds and a broken skull and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Navotas Lying-in Clinic.

Police are now hunting suspects Francis Jimenez, 37 and Hernando de Leon, 38, the victim’s neighbors. Some witnesses said the suspects went into hiding somewhere in Malabon City.

Case officer P02 Eric Roxas said the incident took place around 9:30 p.m. along Casenas street in the same barangay.

Investigation showed the three men were drinking when their free-wheeling discussion touched on whether or not the joint RP-US military exercises are advantageous to the country.

The victim, according to witnesses, favored the presence of the Americans in Mindanao while the suspects allegedly wanted the exercise stopped because it would not do the country any good.

The protagonists then engaged in an argument until Jimenez reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim several times. According to the witnesses, De Leon then picked up a wooden club and hit Garcia in the head.

Police said the suspects fled after seeing the victim’s bloodied form slumped on the ground.