Ex-soldier killed in shoot-out with arresting teams

ILOILO CITY ,Philippines  -- A former soldier, who was a suspect in the killing of three soldiers two years ago, was killed following a shootout with arresting personnel Friday morning at Brgy. Danao in Tigbauan town of Iloilo.

Reports said the suspect, discharged Philippine Army sergeant Elias Tial, fire the first shot upon seeing the combined police and military elements coming to arrest him.

Members of the Philippine Army's 82nd Infantry Battalion and the Iloilo Provincial Public Safety Company went to his hiding place to serve an arrest warrant against Tial for murder.

The soldiers and policemen negotiated for Tial to surrender but the latter fired at them while attempting to flee.

Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, director of the Iloilo Provincial Police, said the arresting teams were left with no choice but to fire back at the suspect who was deemed "armed and dangerous."

Tial's safehouse, situated near his family' house, was located on a hilly portion giving him a view of approaching persons. "Maybe, he was also preparing for such a scenario. We're not just sure if yielding to authorities was an option for him," Lebin said.

Lebin said the Friday's incident was the fifth attempt of authorities to arrest Tial. Sometime this year, he was also the suspect in the killing of an old man in Tigbauan.

Tial's case started when he went amok more than two years ago while at the Philippine Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City, killing three soldiers.

He shot dead his immediate superior, Capt. Danilo Aragon Jr., 30; Master Sgt. Eliseo dela Cruz, 46; and 1Lt. Gerald Fuentes, 31, while they were at the Barracks 3 of the Army's Transient Quarters.

Tial allegedly got enraged after Aragon rescinded an earlier granted permit for a leave of absence to attend the burial of his father.

After the killing, Tial went into hiding. He was discharged from service for absence without leave (AWOL).