by JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
MANILA, Philippines – The PNP organization is now checking into the neuropsychiatric background of a soldier at Camp Evangelista who killed four of his fellow soldiers while they were sleeping.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr at a press conference told the media this is among the angles that police investigators are looking into.
Private Johmar Villabito, report said, barged into the army headquarters at around 1:10 early dawn Saturday (Feb 11) and opened fire, killing four soldiers namely: Sgt. Rogelio Rojo; Cpl. Bernard Rodrigo; Pfc. Prince Kevin Balaba; and Private Joseph Tamayo.
“Ang tinitingnan ngayon ang background ng private, ang kanyang stress…how to handle stress. Tinitignan ‘yung kanyang neuro kasi nga…private, pinagbabaril, ang mga kasamahan niya. So, there must be something na baka may problema ‘yung tao na hindi niya ma-handle,” Azurin told the media.
SELF DEFENSE
Other soldiers who were alarmed by the gunshots immediately responded and wrestled and killed the suspect as self defense after seeing their comrades bathed in their own blood.
4ID spokesperson Major Francisco Garello Jr. said in a statement: “Two soldiers wrestled and managed to neutralize the suspect acting in self-defense and defense to another person which caused the suspect’s death.”
Initial investigation disclosed that the four victims were sleeping in their quarters when the suspect barged into the area and attacked them using an M16 rifle.
Garello said the Fourth Infantry Division is still investIgating the shooting incident.
“We vow close coordination with the PNP as we also conduct an internal probe that will look into all angles that triggered the incident,” Garello said.
Garello also added that the 4ID is also in the process of informing the families of the personnel who died during the incident as well as the family of the wounded soldier.
