After a 2-day search, the lifeless body of Navy officer Ensign John Clet Edward Labalan was found floating in
Labalan, a
graduate of the Philippine Military Class of 2013, applied for the Navy SEALs
in June. He endured intensely rigorous and difficult training under one of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Navy SEALs
(short for sea, air, and land) are sometimes called "the complete
soldiers." They are trained in covert military insertions on all fronts
and terrains.
They are capable
of conducting search and destroy operations, reconnaissance missions, and enemy
demolition, even underwater demolitions.
Initial
information reveals that at around 7 p.m. on September 30, Labalan and 32 other
trainees underwent a "night reconnaissance evolution," a training
exercise in the dark that requires them to swim covertly from a ship to the
shore.
Navy SEALs are
known for swimming long distances for long periods of time.
Col. Edgard
Arevalo, the Navy spokesperson, said the trainees were already swimming when
Labalan's training buddy heard him shout, "Lambat! lambat! (there's a net,
there's net)," as a warning to him and other swimmers.
Labalan's
training buddy himself got snagged in the fishing net, and lost one fin. He
also lost sight of Labalan.
This prompted
Labalan's training buddy to signal to surrounding trainors that something was
wrong.
The training
exercise was suspended, all trainors and swimmers began searching for Labalan,
but he was no longer there.
A full search and
rescue operation was immediately launched and continued throughout the night,
involving the 7 rubber boats of the trainors, 2 rigid hull inflatable boats,
and 2 more patrol boats.
The following
morning, the search was reinforced by a multipurpose attack craft and a
helicopter. Labalan's classmates joined in on the search that extended to the
waters of Naic, Tanza, Bataan, and Corregidor .
The family was
notified and taken 1 mile offshore, where the night recon training took place.
The family and
Navy officers offered prayers in order to find Labalan.
At around 3 p.m.
Friday, October 3, Labalan's body was found at the Manila Bay
Scene of the crime
operatives are now on site to investigate the cause of Labalan's death.
Rear Admiral
Jesus Millan, the Navy flag officer in command, has ordered an inquiry into the
incident, and is committed to hold accountable any personnel should it be
proven that there was negligence involved.
Labalan's remains
are now with his family, and will be given full military honors as a junior
officer who died in the conduct of his duties.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/03/14/navy-seals-trainee-dies-night-training
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